‘Marce’ intensifies as it exits to Vietnam
-A A +AThursday, October 4, 2012
MANILA -- Tropical Storm "Marce" continues to intensify as it moves away from the country, the state weather bureau said.
Weather Forecaster Gener Qutilong said that as of 5 a.m. Thursday, tropical storm Marce located at 310 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales (15.1°N, 116.8°E) increased its wind from 85 kilometers per hour (kph) to 95 kph, while its gustiness rose from 100 kph to 120 kph.
Quitlong said Marce is forecast to move west at five kph and is expected to leave the Philippine territory by Friday afternoon heading towards Vietnam.
“As Marce exits the country, some areas of Luzon including Metro Manila can expect a weather improvement today,” Quitlong said, adding that public storm warning signal is now lowered.
He added that based on the present models, the tropical storm is not expected to make a landfall in any part of the country.
However, Quitlong said that those areas within the 400-km diameter of the tropical storm are expected to experience 10 to 25 mm per hour, which is classified as “heavy to intense.”
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Marce continues to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring occasional moderate to heavy rains over Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), and Visayas.
Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the western seaboard of Luzon due to big waves generated by Marce.
Pagasa said Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Bicol Region and the Zamboanga Peninsula will have occasional light to moderate rains or thunderstorms while the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with brief rainshowers or thunderstorms.
The weather agency said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to east will prevail over the Cagayan Valley and Ilocos Region, and coming from the southwest to south over Western Visayas and the rest of Luzon.
The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.
Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest to west with slight to moderate seas.
Pagasa also issued a gale warning as strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the western seaboard of Luzon and Visayas. (PNA)
Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!
