Ulysses is no Ondoy, but why did it cause similar flooding? Mang Tani explains

Each cyclone has its own character.

This was how Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz put things as floods and devastation caused by Typhoon Ulysses also brought back memories of Ondoy for many.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, GMA's resident meteorologist noted the difference between the two cyclones.

"Itong si Ulysses, hindi ito kabagalan. Hindi ito katulad ni Ondoy. Si Ondoy talagang napakabagal ng kilos niyan. Sa unti-unti niyang (Ondoy) galaw, puro ulan ang dinala niya. Walang masyadong hangin," he said.

Flash floods happened during the onslaught of Ondoy in September 2009 because of the heavy rainfall it has caused within only six hours.

On the other hand, Ulysses' impact is greatly influenced by previous typhoons that entered the country recently.

"Ito kasing si Ulysses, ilang bagyo na kasi ang dumaan bago ito dumaan. So, 'yung lupa, maging sa Sierra Madre ay babad na babad na. Saturated na kaya kaunting ulan lamang ay nagkakaroon ng ng run-off," Mang Tani said.

This is also a factor why the water level in Marikina River reached 21.9 meters as of 9:37 a.m., higher than the 21.5 meters it reached during Ondoy, he added.

"Mas maraming ulan pero 'yun nga, ang sabi natin, mas marami kasing bagyong nagpaulan [bago si Ulysses]," Mang Tani said, noting that some dams such as Angat are already overflowing.

Compared to Super Typhoon Rolly which recently ravaged several parts of Luzon earlier this month, Ulysses is weaker but the impact is more felt as many residents have not managed to recover yet from the effects of previous disasters.

"Mas malakas po ang bagyong Rolly kaysa sa bagyong Ulysses pero ang pinsala mas nagiging matindi dahil hindi ka pa nakakabangon, heto na naman po," Mang Tani said.

No low-pressure areas are being spotted in the vicinity of the Philippine Area of Responsibility and it is likely that no weather disturbance will immediately follow after Ulysses.

"Sa ngayon, wala. Mukhang dalawang linggo na wala tayong nakikita so far na pamumuo. Walang kasunod itong si Ulysses. Kahit yung one week lamang, wala tayong nakikitang pamumuo," Mang Tani said.

As of 8 a.m., PAGASA placed Metro and eight other areas under Signal No. 3.

Ulysses has maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kilometers per hour.

It is moving west northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Friday morning or afternoon. —Dona Magsino/JST, GMA News