In its latest weather update of PAGASA issued at 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 30, 2011, Typhoon “QUIEL” has accelerated as it threatens Cagayan area.

Typhoon “Quiel” (international name: Nalgae) on Friday gained strength and expanse as it hurtled toward Luzon, threatening the northern and central regions, the very same regions barely  recovering from Typhoon “Pedring,” with more rains and floods and disrupting reconstruction efforts.

At 4:00 a.m. today,the eye of Typhoon “QUIEL” was located based on radar, satellite and surface data at 160 km Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora (16.8° N 123.8° E) with maximum sustained winds of 160 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph. It is forecast to move West Southwest at 26 kph.

Forecast:

Northern and Central Luzon will experience stormy weather and the coastal waters along these areas will be rough to very rough while Southern Tagalog will have rains with gusty winds. The rest of the country will be cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northwest to West will prevail over the rest of Luzon and coming from the Southwest to West over Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the Southwest with slight to moderate seas.
in Filipino source: Pagasa

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (Pagasa) said Quiel intensified and is expected to make landfall in Cagayan and Isabela on Saturday morning, instead of Saturday afternoon as earlier predicted.

In a weather bulletin, Pagasa said Quiel is expected to be at 40 kilometers (km) east of Laoag City or 90 km northwest of Tuguegarao City on Saturday afternoon and at 570 km West of Laoag City by Sunday afternoon.

The typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 170 kph, is expected to enhance southwest monsoon and will bring scattered to widespread rains over Southern Luzon and Western Visayas.

Storm signal no. 3 (expect winds of 101-185 kph) was hoisted in Cagayan and Isabela on Friday. The provinces of Northern Aurora, Quirino, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Kalinga, Apayao, Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands was placed under storm signal no. 2 (expect winds of 61-100 kph). Signal no. 1 (expect winds of 45-60 kph) was hoisted in the rest of Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Abra.

Pagasa warned those in low lying and mountainous areas under storm warning signals against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, “those living in coastal areas are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone,” it added.

The weather disturbance is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday afternoon.