'Bagyong Egay' lingers over Luzon, Signal No. 2 up in 7 areas

MANILA, Philippines - State weather bureau PAGASA on its latest weather bulletin released on Monday morning, July 6, 2015 said that 'Bagyong Egay' has remained almost stationary over Luzon Sea. Public storm warning signal (PSWS) Signal No. 2 also up in more than 7 areas.

At 4:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Storm “Egay” was estimated based on all available data at 135 km Southwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (17.8°N, 119.4°E). It has maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center, gustiness of up to 100 kph and forecast to move North at 7 kph.

Forecast Positions:

• 24 hour (Tomorrow morning): 180 km North Northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
• 48 hour (Wednesday morning): 190 km Northwest of Basco, Batanes
• 72 hour (Thursday morning): 310 km North Northwest of Basco, Batanes
• 96 hour (Friday morning): outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) or at 605 km North Northeast of Basco, Batanes

PUBLIC STORM WARNING SIGNAL

PSWS #2 (61-120kph Expected in 24 hrs.)
Luzon: Batanes, Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Abra.

Open Sea Wave Height: 4.1-14.0m Storm surge possible at coastal areas

Impacts of the wind

• Light to Moderate damage to high risk structures;
• Very light to light damage to medium-risk structures;
• No damage to very light damage to low risk structures
• Unshielded, old dilapidated schoolhouses, makeshift shanties, and other structures of light materials are partially damaged or unroofed.
• A number of nipa and cogon houses may be partially or totally unroofed.
• Some old galvanized iron (G.I.) roofs may be peeled or blown off.
• Some wooden, old electric posts are tilted or downed.
• Some damage to poorly constructed signs/billboards
• In general, the winds may bring light to moderate damage to the exposed communities. Most banana plants, a few mango trees, ipil-ipil and similar types of trees are downed or broken
• Some coconut trees may be tilted with few others broken
• Rice and corn may be adversely affected
• Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some heavy-foliaged trees blown down.

PSWS #1(30-60kph Expected in 36 hrs.)

Luzon: Pangasinan, Isabela, Benguet, La Union, Mt. Province and Ifugao.
Open Sea Wave Height: 1.25-4.0 meters

Impacts of the wind

• Very light or no damage to high risk structures,
• Light damage to medium to low risk structures
• Slight damage to some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in exposed communities. Some banana plants are tilted, a few downed and leaves are generally damaged
• Twigs of small trees may be broken.
• Rice crops, however, may suffer significant damage when it is in its flowering stage.

The estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within the 400 km diameter of the Tropical Storm.

Fisher folks and small sea crafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas.

Residents in mountainous and low lying areas of the provinces under PSWS #1 &2 as well as the rest of Northern and Central Luzon, Metro Manila, MIMAROPA and CALABARZON are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Tropical storm “Egay” is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Thursday evening (July 9).