Typhoon ‘Basyang’ to hit Central Luzon today 07/14/2010

Typhoon ‘Basyang’ to hit Central Luzon today

07/14/2010 Luzon braced for the country’s first typhoon of the year as forecasters warned of floods and possible landslides across wide swathes of the main island as the government ordered schools up to the college level to close today while international flights will be diverted and ships were barred from leaving port. Typhoon “Basyang” packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center with gustiness of up to 150 kph, was expected by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) to hit Central Luzon late last night or early today.  Pagasa spokesman Robert Sawi said at 4 pm yesterday, Basyang was at 40 kilometers (km) north northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte and was moving westward at 22 kph. It is expected to make landfall between Aurora and Northern Quezon area last night and it will be 160 km. northwest of Iba, Zambales by this afternoon. Pagasa expects the typhoon to leave the country by tomorrow afternoon.  Aurora, Northern Quezon, including Polillo Island and Camarines Norte, were placed under public storm Signal No. 3 last night while Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Southern Quezon, Marinduque, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes. Cagayan, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Ifugao, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan, Cavite and Batangas. Metro Manila and Albay were under Signal No. 1 last night.  Pagasa Administrator Prisco Nilo said the typhoon had induced the southwest monsoon thus causing heavy rains of 10 to 20 millimeters per hour within a 250 km radius. Strong winds, Nilo said, is expected to cover a 30 km radius. Water level in Angat Dam is expected to rise as rain has started pouring in the watershed of Angat Dam based on the monitoring of Pagasa.  “Areas that are in the direct path will experience heavy rains, even areas to the south of the typhoon will have strong rain,” Nilo told reporters.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100714hed2.html

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