Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Pagasa: 'Igme' is now a typhoon

Slow-moving Tropical Storm "Igme” was upgraded to a typhoon Monday afternoon, the weather bureau said. In a 5:00 p.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Igme continues to move slowly north and is estimated to be 310 kilometers east of Aparri in Cagayan, Pagasa said. Igme is expected to be 280 kilometers off Aparri on Monday morning and will have maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1 has been hoisted over Isabela and Cagayan provinces since Sunday. Seas will be "rough to very rough" in Batanes, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon, Pagasa said. Cloudy skies and scattered rain showers are expected. Igme is also expected to enhance the Southwest Monsoon (habagat) and will bring light to moderate rains over Benguet, Baguio, Pangasinan, La Union, and Ilocos provinces. Central and Southern Luzon will also experience light to moderate rains, Pagasa said. Igme is expected to be 310 kilometers east of Cagayan by Tuesday afternoon and 245 kilometers from Basco, Batanes by Wednesday afternoon. By Thursday afternoon, it should be 245 kilometers east northeast of Batanes, Pagasa said.