PAGADIAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 1, 2012) – Philippine weather experts warned residents to take extra precaution as Typhoon Bopha heads to the country and could make landfall next week.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the typhoon was located based on satellite and surface data at 1,600 km East of Southern Mindanao with maximum sustained winds of 165 kph and gustiness of up to 200 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 20 kph.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration which is tracking the super typhoon said Bopha continues to affect the islands in Micronesia in the western North Pacific Ocean.
“Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecast Bopha’s center to pass close to Palau on its way to the Visayas region of Philippines by December 4. Residents in the Philippines need to prepare for heavy rains, rough surf and strong winds,” it said.
On Saturday, the center of Typhoon Bopha was located near latitude 4.4 degrees north and longitude 143.8 degrees east. Bopha’s center was about 510 miles east-southeast of Ngulu, about 525 miles southeast of Yap, and 675 miles east-southeast of Koror Palau and Kayangel.
Bopha’s maximum sustained winds remain at 75 mph (120.7 kph) and the storm is expected to slowly intensify over the next day. Typhoon Bopha is moving west-north-westward at 12 mph and little change is expected in this movement through Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service in Guam: “Typhoon force winds extend outward up to 20 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles from the center.”
Typhoon Bopha is expected to continue moving toward west-northwest. The National Weather Service official forecast track takes Bopha south of Ngulu and very close to the islands of Koror and Kayangel in the Republic of Palau.
As Bopha draws closer and intensifies, winds could reach typhoon intensity (as high as 74 mph/ 64 knots/119 km/h). Surf will be very rough and rainfall can reach up to 4 inches on Saturday and up to an additional 6 inches on Sunday/Monday. Residents can expect local flooding and mudslides, according to NASA.
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