Friday, August 17, 2007

Super Typhoon SEPAT (EGAY) to pass close to Batanes this afternoon... [Update #009]


Typhoon2000 STORM UPDATE #009
Name: SUPER TYPHOON SEPAT [EGAY/09W/0708] 
Issued: 7:00 AM MANILA TIME (23:00 GMT) FRI 17 AUGUST 2007
Next Update: 7:00 PM (11:00 GMT) FRI 17 AUGUST
Source: JTWC TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING #019
_______________________________________________________________________
 
 
SUPER TYPHOON SEPAT (EGAY) WEAKENED SLIGHTLY BUT REMAINS AT
CATEGORY FIVE WITH WINDS OF 250 KM/HR...APPROACHING BATANES
GROUP OF ISLANDS. 

*SEPAT is currently undergoing Eyewall Replacement - a
common cycle naturally observed in intense tropical
cyclones (category 3 and up) wherein a new eyewall will
form & replace the current eyewall as it starts decaying.
Click here for more details.

+ FORECAST OUTLOOK: SEPAT is expected to maintain its Cate-
gory 5 strength for the next 6 hours and starts to weaken.
It shall pass close to the northeast of Batanes Group of
Islands this afternoon and approach the Southeastern Coast
of Taiwan early Saturday morning. SEPAT shall hit land or
make landfall over Southeastern Taiwan at approx 3-4 AM HK
Time and cross the mountainous terrain of south Central
Taiwan. This intense system shall weaken considerably to
Cat 2 or 1 upon moving back to sea Saturday afternoon
(Taiwan Strait). The 2 to 4-day forecast shows SEPAT
making its last landfall over Southeastern China early
Sunday morning (Aug 19) around 3 AM - passing very close
to the northeast of Xiamen City as a weak typhoon (120-
150 km/hr). SEPAT shall dissipate over the mountainous
region of China on Monday, Aug 20

+ EFFECTS: SEPAT's western outer bands continues to spread
across the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Abra, Batanes Group,
Cagayan, & Isabela. Cloudy skies with passing occasionally
light to sometimes heavy rainfall and strong winds of up to
60 km/hr can be expected along these bands. Meanwhile, large
waves can also be observed along the coastline of Eastern
Luzon (from Cagayan down to Bicol Peninsula). Stormy weather
conditions is likely to be felt today over Babuyan and
Batanes Group of Islands as the typhoon's inner spiral bands
approaches. Coastal Storm Surge flooding of more than 20 feet
above normal tide levels...along with large and dangerous
battering waves can be expected near and to the north of
SEPAT's projected path particularly along the Southern and
Eastern Coasts of Taiwan including Extreme Northern Luzon.
Flash floods and mudslides are imminent along river banks,
low-lying and mountainous regions of the affected areas.
Precautionary measures must be initiated as the powerful
system moves closer.

+ CURRENT MONSOON INTENSITY: The Southwest (SW) Monsoon
continues to be enhanced (pulled) by SEPAT. Cloudy skies with
passing light to moderate to sometimes heavy rains & SW'ly
winds of 20 km/hr or higher can be expected today along Luzon
and Visayas - becoming more frequent over the Western sections
including Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog Provinces, Mindoro,
Calamian Group, Western Panay, Boracay Island Resort, Masbate,
Ticao & Burias Islands, & the Bicol Region. Mudslides and
flooding is likely along river banks, low-lying & flood-prone
areas of the affected areas.

Important Note: Please keep in mind that the above forecast
outlook, effects & current monsoon intensity, and tropical
cyclone watch changes every 06 to 12 hours!

_______________________________________________________________________

TIME/DATE: 5:00 AM MANILA TIME (21:00 GMT) 17 AUGUST
LOCATION OF EYE: LATITUDE 19.8º N...LONGITUDE 124.4º E
DISTANCE 1: 260 KM (140
NM) ESE OF BASCO, BATANES, PH
DISTANCE 2: 325 KM (175 NM) NE OF APARRI, CAGAYAN, PH
DISTANCE 3: 525 KM (283 NM) SE OF KAOSHIUNG, TAIWAN 
DISTANCE 4: 550 KM (297 NM) SE OF HUALIEN, TAIWAN
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS [1-MIN AVG]: 250 KM/HR (135 KTS)
PEAK WIND GUSTS: 305 KM/HR (165 KTS)
SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE: CATEGORY FIVE (5)
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE (est.): 922 MILLIBARS (hPa)
RECENT MOVEMENT: NW @ 19 KM/HR (10 KTS)
GENERAL DIRECTION: BATANES-TAIWAN AREA
STORM'S SIZE (IN DIAMETER): 815 KM (440 NM)/LARGE
MAX WAVE HEIGHT**: 46 FEET (14.0 METERS)
VIEW T2K TRACKING MAP: 5 AM MANILA TIME FRI AUGUST 17
TSR WIND PROBABILITIESCURRENT TO 96 HRS LEAD
  

PHILIPPINE STORM SIGNALS*:
#03 - BATANES GROUP OF ISLANDS.
#02
- BABUYAN ISLANDS.
#01 - CAGAYAN, ISABELA, NORTHERN AURORA, KALINGA, APAYAO, 
      ILOCOS NORTE, & ABRA
.
           
12, 24 & 48 HR. FORECAST:
2 PM (06 GMT) 17 AUGUST: 21.1N 123.3E / 240-295 KPH / NW @ 20 KPH
2 AM (18 GMT) 18 AUGUST: 22.7N 121.7E / 230-280 KPH / NW @ 17 KPH
2 AM (18 GMT) 19 AUGUST: 24.8N 118.9E / 150-185 KPH / WNW @ 13 KPH

REMARKS: 2 AM (18 GMT) 17 AUGUST POSITION: 19.4N 124.8E.
^SUPER TYPHOON (STY) 09W (SEPAT) HAS MAINTAINED ITS STATUS
AS A SUPER TYPHOON DURING THE PAST 12 HOURS UNDER THE IN-
FLUENCE OF HIGH OCEAN HEAT CONTENT AND GOOD EQUATORWARD
OUTFLOW. THE STORM HAS CONTINUED TO MOVE GENERALLY NORTH-
WESTWARD ON THE SOUTHWESTERN PERIPHERY OF A SUBTROPICAL
HIGH PRESSURE STEERING RIDGE TO THE NORTH AND EAST. THE
CURRENT STORM POSITION ESTIMATE IS BASED ON POSITION FIXES
FROM PGTW AND RJTD AND RECENT MICROWAVE SATELLITE IMAGERY.
A SSMIS MICROWAVE IMAGE DEPICTS A CONCENTRIC EYEWALL IN ITS
FORMATIVE STAGES, SUGGESTING THAT AN EYEWALL REPLACEMENT
CYCLE HAS BEGUN
...(more)

>> SEPAT {pronounced: se~pa~t}, meaning: A fresh water fish 
   with small climbing perch, is often found in rivers, swampy
   areas with a lot of weeds and paddy fields. Name contributed 
   by:
Malaysia.

_______________________________________________________________________

PAGASA CURRENT POSITION, MOVEMENT AND INTENSITY (10-min. ave.): 
> 4 AM (20 GMT) 17 AUGUST: 19.7N 124.5E / NW @ 19 KPH / 215 kph

:: For the complete PAGASA bulletin, kindly visit their website 
   at:
http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/wb/tcupdate.shtml
_______________________________________________________________________


RECENT T2K TRACKING CHART:


_______________________________________________________________________________________

 
RECENT MTSAT-1R SATELLITE IMAGE:


> Image source:  Digital-Typhoon.org (http://www.digital-typhoon.org)
__________________________________________________________________________________________

NOTES:
 
  ^ - JTWC commentary remarks (for Meteorologists) from their 
      latest warning.
 
  * - Based on PAGASA's Philippine Storm Warning Signals, 
      # 4 being the highest. Red letters indicate new areas 
      being hoisted.
For more explanations on these signals, 
      visit:
http://www.typhoon2000.ph/signals.htm

 ** - Based on the Tropical Cyclone's Wave Height near 
      its center.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

>>
To know the meteorological terminologies and acronyms 
   used on this update visit the ff:

    http://typhoon2000.ph/tcterm.htm  
    http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutgloss.shtml
    http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/severewx/glossary.php
    http://www.srh.weather.gov/fwd/glossarynation.html
    http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/acronyms.shtml
__________________________________________________________________________________________

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__________________________________________________________________________________________

For the complete details on STY SEPAT (EGAY)...go visit
our website @:

>
http://www.typhoon2000.com
http://www.maybagyo.com

:: Kindly view our site's disclaimer at: 
   
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4 comments:

Patrick Cowsill said...

According to my colleague, Sepat has just been downgraded from the fifth grade (Super Typhoon) to a fourth class (whatever that's called).

MJ Klein said...

the term is "category 4" and Sepat is acting pretty much according to expectations. in one of the other posts there is a different map type that shows the predicted wind speeds with a lot less confusion.

either way man, we are going to get clobbered.

Patrick Cowsill said...

She's got a nice tight little eye. According to my colleague, that could mean trouble. Does it actually mean anything to have a tight little eye? I figure she's been out there for so long that she's gathering up something. BTW, why do all typhoons always seem to start in the same area in the Pacific?

Too bad she couldn't make it on a weekday.

MJ Klein said...

Patrick, your colleague is right. the tight eye means that the storm is well organized and the power is therefore concentrated instead of being wasted as in the case of a loosely packed, lesser organized storm. a small eye also indicates a high power storm. like many things in life, it's about concentrating energy. this storm is very well organized and powerful.

they all start in the same basic area because the earth's weather system is basically an engine. and the engine runs in pretty much the same patterns unless something disrupts it, such as a volcanic eruption that puts lots of particulate matter into the atmosphere. all those storms spawn in warm water and they draw their power from warm water. if a typhoon has to pass over colder water it will lose some of its power. the most dangerous typhoons are the one that park offshore and just dump water on the land while maintaining their position over warm water which keeps them fueled. this partular storm has meandered along and built up plenty of power although thankfully it is weakening a bit.

just this evening i had a laugh with some of the local men who were sitting nearby drinking. "why couldn't it come on Monday or Tuesday?" i asked, which caused a lot of laughter, but probably more from the fact that a foreigner said it, lol.

there is still time left in the season for a few days off though!