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Typhoon with international name "Soudelor," seen
in this MTSAT image from PAGASA as of Tuesday at 9:45 a.m., is expected to
enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Wednesday.
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MANILA - Typhoon Soudelor, which is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday, is the strongest storm in the world this year, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
On Tuesday early morning, the state weather bureau said Soudelor (international name) has maximum sustained winds of 210 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 245 kilometers per hour.
This makes it stronger than typhoon Noul (local name: Dodong), which had maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour last May.
Pagasa said Soudelor may even intensify further and surpass the strength of typhoon Ruby, which had 215 kilometers per hour last December.
“From what we see, it can grow stronger and become a super typhoon.” Gladys Saludes, weather forecaster of Pagasa, said in a telephone interview.
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Track of super typhoon Soudelor as of Tuesday, 9:45 a.m. US
Navy/JTWC
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According to Pagasa's updated tropical cyclone classification system, a super typhoon has maximum sustained winds exceeding 220 kilometers per hour.
Saludes said warm sea surface temperatures, which could be a result of the El Niño phenomenon, are among the conditions favorable for the development of Soudelor.
“The vertical wind shear is also not strong. It’s like the vertical structure is stable that’s why the eye of the storm is very visible.”
Pagasa said Soudelor, which will be locally named Hanna as soon as it enters the PAR, is not expected to make landfall over any part of the country as it is forecast to move west northwest toward Taiwan and southeast China.
The typhoon is not expected to directly affect the Philippine archipelago, but it may draw in the southwest monsoon or habagat, which will bring rain over parts of Visayas and Mindanao starting Wednesday.
Saludes said Soudelor may stay within the PAR until Friday evening or Saturday morning.
ITCZ and thunderstorms
Meanwhile, the inter-tropical convergence zone, the merging of winds from the northern and southern hemispheres, continues to bring "light to moderate" rain over Mindanao, Palawan, and Western and Central Visayas.
At 6 a.m., Pagasa also issued an advisory saying thunderstorms may affect Cordova, Compostela, Danao City, Lapu-Lapu City, Lilo-an, Minglanilla, Naga City, and Talisay City in Cebu within one to two hours.
"All are advised to take precautionary measures against heavy rains, strong winds, lightning, and possible flashfloods. Keep monitoring for updates," Pagasa said.
Source: Interaksyon, Philstar
