Typhoons – still lucky Philippines

Typhoon season 2014 started in April with Tropical Storm PEIPAH / Domeng. Since then already 17 cyclones crossed over the waters of the northwestern Pacific.  Only 2 Typhoons and 5 Tropical Depressions (TD) or Tropical Storms (TS) crossed the Philippines. The current 2 active cyclones turned north before reaching the Philippine Islands.

Picture courtesy of wikipedia.org

On July 16, Typhoon RAMMASUN / Glenda (Cat.4) crossed over the Bicol region from Albay over to Tagaytay. And then on September 13, Typhoon KALMAEGI /Luis (Cat.1) crossed over the Cagayan valley region in northern Luzon.

All other typhoons turned northwards before reaching the Philippine islands. This early change of direction belongs also to the two currently active cyclones. Typhoon PHANFONE / Neneng has weakened from Cat4. to Cat1. Typhoon and is already moving alongside Japan’s main island Honshu.

Typhoon VONGFONG is still moving towards the norther Philippine Islands but will also turn northwards Wednesday morning.

Both multiple agency tracks are courtesy of typhoon2000.ph

Typhoon VONGFONG is currently of category 2 with a central pressure of 970 hPa and peak wind speeds of 165 km/h. JMA forecast says that pressure will go down to 650 hPa and gusts may increase to speeds of  240 km/h. This typhoon will not touch the Philippines but will increase the south-western monsoon (Habagat) and create gusty weather on the west and southwest coasts.

[GARD]