MANILA, October 1 ------ State weather bureau PAGASA said it expected up to 9 more tropical cyclones this year, after super typhoon Karding battered Luzon.
Two to 4 cyclones could form in October, 2 or 3 in November, and up to 2 in December, said PAGASA administrator Vicente Malano. "So nasa 6 hanggang 9 pa itong taon na ito," he said in a public briefing. ABS-CBN News resident meteorologist Ariel Rojas earlier said authorities must prepare for storms in the last quarter of the year since these usually hit land and pass through central or southern Luzon, the Visayas, and northern Mindanao.
Super typhoon Karding brought heavy rains and fierce winds that toppled trees, knocked down power, and flooded low-lying communities. It later weakened to a typhoon as it crossed a mountain range, coconut plantations and rice fields. PAGASA's Malano said there were 4 super typhoons each in 2020 and 2021. This year, 3 super typhoons have entered the Philippine area, 2 of which, Henry and Josie, did not make landfall in the country, Malano said. "Kung titingnan po natin ay dumami nga iyong ano… dumami iyong malalakas na hangin, malalakas na bagyo," he said.
A super typhoon packs maximum sustained winds of at least 185 kilometers per hour, according to PAGASA. PAGASA's long-term plans include improving its weather forecasting research and ensuring the upkeep of monitoring facilities, Malano said. "Mayroon ho tayong tinatawag na impact-based forecasting. Dati rati po kasi tinitingnan lang din po natin kung ano iyong lakas ng ulan, lakas ng hangin," he said. "Sa ngayon po tinitingnan na po natin kung ano iyong epekto ng lakas ng ulan, lakas ng hangin doon sa isang area."
Karding has so far left 11 people dead and some P2 billion worth of agricultural damage, authorities said.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com