Despite the arrival of Super Typhoon Mawar in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, May 26, said that it is not expecting the gates of major dams to be opened.
Angat Dam in Bulacan. (Photo credit to www.napocor.gov.ph)
PAGASA Hydro-Meteorology Division Weather Services Chief Roy A. Badilla said the typhoon, as of now, will not push dams to open emergency gates as the expected rainfall of PAGASA is 33 mm and may not provoke any conundrum for the water level.
In Cagayan (Valley), in Magat Area, the forecasted basin rainfall is only 33 mm and could only elevate the water for a few meters. "As of now, it will not cost the opening of gates for dams," Badilla said in Filipino.
Angat Dam stays less than normal
As of 6 a.m., the Reservoir Water Level (RWL) at the Angat Dam in Bulacan was 191.03 meters.
Although it is less than its Normal High Water Level (NHWL) of 210 meters, Angat is 6.98 meters above the Rule Curve Elevation (RCE), according to PAGASA Weather Specialist Richard Orendain.
This, he explained, is the basis of hydrologists to measure if the operation of a particular dam is regular or not.
However, to make the Angat Dam normal, it needed to fill up to 610 mm of water elevation. On May 31, PAGASA projected Angat to rise to 191.41 meters from its current level of 191.03 meters.
Meanwhile, the forecast for the San Roque Dam in Ilocos is from 228.71 meters to 235.62 meters. However, it still needs an adequate water supply (1,573 mm) to level its standard measurement.
For the Pandamangan Dam, PAGASA foresaw a slight water level elevation in five days, from 182.13 meters to 182.96. Lastly, for Magat Dam located in Ramon Cagayan Valley, PAGASA anticipated a 6.23 meters increase in water level on May 31. (Sonny Daanoy)