Storm Megi to hit Cagayan Valley, may bring Ondoy-like rains

Tropical Storm Megi further intensified as it approaches the country and is forecast to enter Philippine territory late Friday night or early Saturday morning. The storm is also expected to bring Ondoy-like rains to affected areas. Officials from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also said at a press conference in Quezon City that Megi will make landfall between Isabela and Cagayan provinces Monday afternoon. Megi, which will be codenamed "Juan" once inside Philippine territory, was spotted 1,300 kilometers east of southern Luzon as of 10 a.m. PAGASA also said there was a "very remote chance" of the storm hitting Metro Manila. The storm, the tenth to hit the country this year, was monitored to be packing maximum winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph. Nathaniel Servando, PAGASA deputy director for research and development, said Megi is expected to intensify into a typhoon in the next two days, with winds reaching beyond 150 kph. "Landfall is based on the eye of the storm, but its circulation could be felt [as early as] Sunday afternoon in the two provinces [where it will make landfall]," he said.

When do we call a storm a storm? State weather forecasters use this guide when classifying weather disturbances entering Philippine territory. 'Nando' has maximum winds of a tropical depression. Source: Pagasa

Meanwhile, Secretary Mario Montejo of the Department of Science and Technology warned that Megi could bring heavy rains similar to those brought by tropical storm Ondoy (Ketsana), the killer typhoon that triggered floods and left hundreds dead and millions of pesos in damage in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces in September 2009. Weather officials have said the rainfall from Ondoy was the highest in recorded history, surpassing the previous record for the metropolis in 1967. (See: Epic flood in Metro Manila caused by record rainfall) Weather forecasters advised sea travelers to refrain from sailing in the affected areas as early as Sunday morning. PAGASA said it will continue issuing weather bulletins every six hours on its website, but will post hourly updates on its Twitter account which was activated Friday noon. —LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV