Typhoon Mirinae (Santi) threatens Manila

Forecasts for Typhoon Santi (internationally named Mirinae), continue to shift from the storm passing over the northern part of Luzon to it making a direct hit on metro Manila. Either way, the difference will not be significant and the city has been warned to expect heavy rain beginning tomorrow (Friday).

Pagasa expects intense `Santi’ before it hits land Saturday (Inquirer)

Residents in storm-weary Luzon were told to prepare for Typhoon Santi (international name: Mirinae) which is expected to make landfall Saturday, with rain forecast for flood-ravaged Metro Manila.

Santi, packing maximum sustained winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 185 kph, was expected to intensify before it slams into Aurora province on Saturday afternoon, the state weather bureau Pagasa said.

"We should expect Santi to become a very intense typhoon in the next several hours or days," Pagasa spokesman Nathaniel Cruz said.

Storm signals have been hoisted over 16 Luzon provinces and residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes with storm signals were told to take precautionary easures against possible flashfloods and landslides.

People in coastal villages were warned of possible storm surges and big waves which might be triggered by the typhoon.

This typhoon has also been difficult to predict its eventual intensity at landfall. Earlier predictions indicated that Mirinae would be a Category 3 typhoon as it made landfall. Forecasts for the past 24 hours have been steady with Mirinae remaining at Category 2 strength, which is its current strength level. Even so, Philippine authorities are warning residents to prepare for a severe storm.

'Santi' intensifies, to bring heavy rains to 18 northern provinces (Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has placed 3 areas under storm signal number two and 15 areas under signal number one as typhoon "Santi" intensified and continued moving toward Luzon, northern Philippines.

In a weather bulletin issued Thursday afternoon, Pagasa has placed Aurora , Northern Quezon and Polillo islands under storm signal number two. The following provinces are placed under storm signal number one: Isabela, Ifugao, Quirino, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, rest of Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.

Typhoon "Santi" is expected to bring more rain and have winds more powerful than typhoon "Pepeng" which battered northern Luzon early this month.

Typhoon Santi threatening to hit Central Luzon, Metro Manila (Business World)

TYPHOON SANTI (international name: Mirinae) is expected to make landfall over Aurora-northern Quezon tomorrow morning, with Metro Manila experiencing stormy weather Friday night and Central Luzon likely bearing the brunt, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) said yesterday.

"Santi is moving west at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) and increases its threat to Central Luzon" according to the weather bureau’s 5 p.m. forecast, said PAGASA chief forecaster Nathaniel A. Cruz in a press briefing.

The bureau, which does not see Santi changing its path compared to typhoon Pepeng (Parma) and Ramil (Lupit) due to a high pressure area at the South China Sea, may consider raising storm signal 3 over Metro Manila Friday evening, he added.

For his part, PAGASA administrator Prisco D. Nilo noted in the same event that the high pressure area could push Santi to a south-southwest path, directly hitting the capital. "The high pressure area controls the movement of the Santi."

The storm, with peak winds of 150 kph and gusts of up to 185 kph, is forecast at 360 kilometers (km) east of Baler, Aurora this afternoon, Mr. Cruz said, with the eye forecast at 90 km north of Manila Saturday afternoon.