Typhoon "Ramil" (international name: Lupit) maintained its strength as its moves northwest slowly toward Northern Luzon, state weather forecasters said Monday noon. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) chief Prisco Nilo said the typhoon might affect the Cagayan-Isabela area starting late Wednesday even as its landfall is expected Thursday morning. "Inaasahang ito ay magla-landfall o tatama sa kalupaan sa bandang extreme Northern Luzon mga Thursday morning or afternoon, depending on the speed of movement. Inaasahan natin eventually towards the middle of the week medyo bibilis ang takbo ng bagyo," Nilo said in a press briefing. Citing information from their instruments, Nilo said the effects of the typhoon will likely be felt late Wednesday in the Cagayan-Isabela area.
"By Wednesday
makakaramdam ng epekto ng bagyo, most likely towards the afternoon
makaka-experience
ng effect
ng bagyong si ‘Ramil’
yung eastern part
ng Northern Luzon (By Wednesday the eastern part of Northern Luzon will feel its effect)," he said. He added that while there is still a possibility Ramil may head for Taiwan, this possibility is "quite low." In its 11 a.m. advisory, Pagasa said Ramil packed maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour, with gusts of 210 kph. Moving northwest slowly, the typhoon was located at 1,110 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan as of 10 a.m. Monday. It is expected to be 900 km east northeast of Aparri on Tuesday morning and 510 km east northeast of Aparri Wednesday morning. By Thursday morning, it is expected to be 180 km northeast of Aparri. No public storm warning signals has been raised as of Monday morning. "This disturbance will not affect any part of the country within the next 36 hours," Pagasa said.
Open dams Meanwhile, Pagasa weather services unit head Nathaniel Cruz said five dams in Luzon remain open to release water even as Angat Dam was closed at 9 a.m. Monday and Ipo Dam was closed earlier at 8:45 a.m. The dams open for water-release include:
- Ambuklao Dam, which kept four gates open and released water at 74 cubic meters per second;
- Binga Dam, which kept two gates open, releasing water at 276 cubic meters per second;
- San Roque Dam, which kept two gates open and released water at 430 cubic meters per second;
- Pantabangan Dam, which kept one gate open and released water at 200 cubic meters per second; and
- Magat Dam, which kept one gate open and released water at 560 cubic meters per second.
Storm signals Earlier in the day, Pagasa said it may raise storm signals in north Luzon Tuesday as rains may start falling by then over the region's easter part. [See:
Pagasa eyes raising storm signals starting Tuesday noon] Over the weekend,
government disaster-response agencies began coordinating to prepare for the onslaught of typhoon Ramil. Various line agencies prepared to set up evacuation centers, assign health personnel on 24/7 duty, and move packed goods to northern Luzon, where the storm is expected to make landfall.
- with a report from Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV