PAGASA on Typhoon Karen: Don't go out to sea in eastern PHL

As tropical cyclone Karen (Sanba) intensified into a typhoon, state weather forecasters on Thursday cautioned residents in eastern Philippines not to go out to sea.

 

PAGASA forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said Karen may generate big waves that could threaten the eastern part of the country, from Central Luzon to Mindanao.

 

"Sa eastern section huwag muna mag-swimming o pumalaot dahil malaki ang alon, mula Central Luzon hanggang Mindanao," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

He said Karen is likely to stay in the Philippine Area of Responsibility until Saturday or Sunday.

 

PAGASA's 11:00am advisory said that Karen intensified into a typhoon while still over the East Philippine Sea.

 

As of 10:00am, it said that Karen was estimated 760 km east of Infanta, Quezon, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

 

It was moving northwest at 13 kph and is forecast to be 600 km east of Tuguegarao City Friday morning; and 420 km east of Basco, Batanes Saturday morning.

 

By Sunday morning it is expected to be 320 km east of Southern Taiwan.

 

No public storm signals have been raised, but PAGASA estimated Karen may bring rainfall of 10 to 20 mm per hour (heavy) within its 550-km diameter.

 

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao due to strong winds generated by Typhoon Karen," it said.

 

It also said Karen may enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rain over the western section of Visayas and of Mindanao.  — TJD, GMA News