WEATHER UPDATE

While there are reports that Pepeng is on its way out (storm signal covering Zambales lifted) and that Olongapo City is now said to be safe, being prepared and cautious is still the best way to go.

Heavy rain (total 100mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon (36mm) forecast from www.weather-forecast.com means that we should expect considerable rainfall, while flooding will not be the same as last weeks, possibility of landslides exists due to the already soaked ridges.

NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM), a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA, captured an image of Parma's rains already affecting the Philippines on October 2 at 00:43 UTC, 8:43 a.m. local Manila Time (8:43 p.m. EDT, Oct. 1). TRMM noticed that most of the rainfall around Parma's center is between 20 and 40 millimeters (.78 to 1.57 inches) per hour.

Typhoon Parma is a huge storm and NASA's TRMM satellite sees it is already bringing more unwanted rains and gusty winds to the typhoon-weary and devastated Philippines. Parma, also called "Pepeng" in the Philippines, will bring heavy rains there today and tomorrow before moving back to sea.

This writer specially likes the NASA TRMM because is gives visuals and readily understandable predictions specially with regards to rainfall and precipitations. These data are important that I could not see the reason why it is not being fully utilized by our local weathermen, this representation not being a professional weather forecaster was able to warn our constituents of the impending flooding by simply using information readily available in the net. (see sample image below when massive flooding in Luzon was predicted.)

Below data is from PAGASA for comparison

Satellite Image for 5 a.m., 03 October 2009

Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind - Analysis for 8 a.m., 03 October 2009

Synopsis:

At 4:00 a.m., today, Typhoon "PEPENG" was located based on radar, satellite and surface data at 260 kms Southeast of Aparri, Cagayan (16.6°N 123.6°E) with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It is forecast to move Northwest at 17 kph.

Forecast:

Northern Luzon will experience stormy weather while Bicol region and the Eastern section of Central Luzon will have rains and gusty winds with moderate to rough seas. The rest of Luzon will have occasional rains while Visayas and Mindanao will be mostly cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.