Typhoon BOPHA will hit Surigao and the Visayas Tuesday

Super Typhoon BOPHA is heading directly towards the Philippines. GDACS has issued a red alert for Palau and the Philippines.

Our office in Camiguin will probably be hit directly. We are now preparing for the worst case. We try to report as long as we can and as long as the network keeps up.

Special warning for coastal regions: The expected Storm Surge Height of 13 – 18 ft (4 – 5.5 m) together with a max. Wave Height of  48 ft (14.6 m) may create great devastation on the shores.

The multi-agency forecast has narrowed again and points now to Surigao and then the central Visayas.

JMA now preview a track going from Surigao over the Bohol Sea hitting Butuan, Camiguin and Tagbilaran. Later crossing Cebu and Negros and moving towards Iloilo.

Storm data:

Name (INTL. / local):	BOPHA
Class:	Typhoon Category 4
Time/Date of observation:	07:00 AM on December 02, 2012
Location of Center:	5.9º North 138.2º East
Moving Direction and Speed:	WNW @ 26 km/h = 16 mph
Moving towards:	Palau
Distance from the Philippines:	1,330 km Mati City
Estimated Date / Time of Landfall:	~ 05:00 PM on December 4, 2012
Max. Wind Speed near Center:	240 km/h = 149 mph
Peak Wind Gusts:	295 km/h = 183 mph
Minimum Central Pressure:	926 hPa
Diameter:	720 km = 447 mi
24h Rainfall near Center:	310 mm = 12 in
Max. Wave Height:	14.6 m = 48 ft
Here you find how to read and understand this data

PAGASA warnings and signals:

Signal 1 30-60 km/h	Signal 2 60-100 km/h	Signal 3 100-185 km/h	Signal 4 above 185 km/h
n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Here you find you find more information about the storm warning signals

 Current weather is here