Great Danger in Aurora – Typhoon KOPPU/Lando now Cat.4

Great Danger in Aurora – Typhoon KOPPU/Lando has now developed an eye and has been upgraded to Category 4. PAGASA has hoisted Storm SIgnal #4 over Aurora. The cyclones forward speed is very low, 10 to 15 km/h.

The situation in Aurora province is getting extremely dangerous. Wind speeds of 210 to 250 km/h are to be expected tonight. Such winds will destroy lightly built houses and knock down many trees. On the coast a big storm surge is expected to be as high as 14 meters (46 feet). This is the height of a 4 storeys building.

At 7:33 p.m. a plane from the United Nations /ETH628) coming from Bangkok has landed in Manila. We do not yet know what their mission will be. Already first relief goods?

Typhoon KOPPU/Lando track forecast

During the last 3 hours the cyclone has slightly changed its track to northwest.

The Big Danger

Typhoon KOPPU/Lando started to interact with his follower, Typhoon CHAMPI. Although CHAMPI will not hit the Philippines as is already turning slightly northwest, it influences the forward speed of KOPPU/Lando. High Pressure Areas (HPA) over Korea and Japan also slow down the northward movement. The result is that Typhoon KOPPU/Lando might hover over northern Luzon until Wednesday next week.

With its diameter of about 850 km, Typhoon KOPPU/Lando will continue to bring in big masses of water and spill it over northern Luzon. Even if wind speeds will decrease when the storm is over land, the heavy rains will trigger floods and landslides.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III warned that Typhoon KOPPU/Lando could be uniquely destructive because it would bring intense rain over a long period of time. Well, that’s politics.

PAGASA Storm Signals

Storm Signal #4: winds of 171 to 220 kph within 12 hours

Aurora

Storm Signal #3: winds of 121 to 170 kph within 18 hours

Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya,  Nueva Ecija, Ifugao, Northern Quezon including Polillo Islands

Storm Signal #2: winds of 61 to 120 kph within 24 hours

Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of Islands,  Benguet,  Mt. Province,  Abra,  Kalinga,  Apayao,  Pangasinan,  La Union,  Ilocos Sur,  Ilocos Norte,  Bulacan,  Pampanga,  Tarlac,  Rizal,  rest of Quezon,  Camarines Norte, Metro Manila

Storm Signal #1: winds of 30 to 60 kph within 36 hours

Batanes, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes

KOPPU/Lando Storm data:

Nearly real-time storm information

Next update tomorrow morning.

[GARD]