MANILA — Seas off Northern and Central Luzon may become rough to very rough anew – and dangerous to sailing – as tropical depression ‘Bising’ nears these areas and enhances the northeast monsoon or ‘amihan’ prevailing there.
“Such scenario is possible particularly if ‘Bising’ persists as a tropical depression,” said weather forecaster Robb Gile from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
He said ‘amihan’ continues to prevail in Luzon but winds of such weather system was bringing to this island’s northern and central areas at present were not yet strong enough to fan there rough to very rough seas.
“Winds there can reach strong to gale-force intensity if ‘Bising’ enhances ‘amihan’ enough,” he noted.
In its Severe Weather Bulletin 3 released Saturday morning (Feb. 4), PAGASA located ‘Bising’ at some 515 kms east of Hinatuan in Mindanao’s Surigao del Sur province as of 10 a.m. Saturday.
‘Bising’ packed maximum sustained winds of up to 45 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 55 kph, said PAGASA.
Gile noted ‘Bising’ may move northwestwards at 11 kph, slower than this tropical depression’s earlier speed of 13 kph.
He expects ‘Bising’ to cruise over waters along the country’s eastern seaboard and bring some rain there before possibly recurving away from Philippine landmass.
“Latest available data indicate low chance for ‘Bising’ to cross the country,” he said.
According to Gile, light to moderate rains and isolatedthunderstorms are possible in Mindanao, the Visayas as well as Luzon’s east-lying Bicol Region and Quezon province while ‘Bising’ moves over waters bordering the country’s eastern seaboard.
‘Bising’ is also enhancing ‘amihan’ so eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao can experience strong to gale-force winds that can fan thererough to very rough seas, he said.
On Saturday, PAGASA said such winds might also fan there waves up to 4.5 meters high.
“Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” PAGASA added in its gale warning 41 released Saturday, citing danger in waters off eastern sections of Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. PNA-northboundasia.com
