'Egay' nears severe tropical storm strength
Published Jul 23, 2023 12:19 am
Tropical cyclone Egay is approaching severe tropical storm status and will continue to intensify rapidly over the next 72 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Sunday, July 23.
PAGASA, in its 5 a.m. bulletin, said Egay intensified slightly with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 105 kph.
Although it remained a tropical storm, it will become a severe tropical storm once its winds reach 89 kph or higher.
“Rapid intensification is likely within the next 72 hours due to favorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions,” PAGASA said.
Egay may become a typhoon within 24 hours and a super typhoon on Tuesday, July 25.
(PAGASA)
(PAGASA)
Signal No. 3 or 4 may be raised
PAGASA said it may raise wind warnings in some areas of Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas on Sunday in anticipation of “strong breeze to near-gale” winds triggered by the approaching storm. PAGASA is also not ruling out the possibility of hoisting Signal No. 3 or 4, associated with “storm-force” or “typhoon-force” winds over portions of extreme northern Luzon. “Current forecast scenario shows that the highest wind signal that may be hoisted will be Wind Signal No. 3 or 4, potentially over extreme northern Luzon,” it said. “However, should a southward shift in the track occur, higher wind signals may be hoisted,” it added.PAGASA warns of heavy rains
Egay and the enhanced southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” may bring heavy to intense rains to some parts of the country over the next three days, PAGASA said. On Monday, July 24, Northern Catanduanes may experience intense rains, while Camarines Norte, northern portion of Camarines Sur, and the rest of Catanduanes may have heavy rains On Tuesday, intense rains may affect the Babuyan Islands and northern portion of mainland Cagayan, while heavy rains may be experienced in Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, northern portion of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Abra, and northern portion of Ilocos Sur. Meanwhile, the habagat may bring heavy rains to Occidental Mindoro, the northern portion of Palawan including Cuyo and Calamian Islands, Western Visayas, and Negros Oriental until Tuesday. “Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days,” PAGASA warned.Forecast track
As of 4 a.m., Egay was estimated 585 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 705 km east of Daet, Camarines Norte. It is moving west-northwestward at 10 kph. “Egay is forecast to slowly accelerate west-northwestward or westward until tomorrow early morning (July 24). Afterwards, it will turn northwestward for the remainder of the forecast period,” PAGASA said. “Although the latest track forecast shows that Egay will remain offshore for most of the forecast period, a close approach or landfall in the vicinity of extreme Northern Luzon is still not ruled out based on the forecast confidence cone. On the track forecast, Egay will be closest to extreme Northern Luzon on Wednesday (July 26) and make landfall over the east coast of Taiwan on Thursday morning (July 27),” it added. PAGASA noted that a “westward shift” in the track forecast is still possible based on the current and forecast behavior of the ridge of high pressure to the north of Egay. It may leave the country’s area of responsibility on Friday, July 28.