'Igme,' 'Julian' may interact tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines - A “Fujiwhara Effect” between storm “Igme” and typhoon “Julian” might take place tomorrow, according to a forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said yesterday that although Igme (international name “Tembin”) is already moving toward the direction of Hong Kong, they have not completely ruled out the possibility that it would still interact with Julian (international name “Bolaven”), thus creating a Fujiwhara Effect.

“There are several models showing that there would be a Fujiwhara Effect,” said Quitlong.

As of 11 a.m. yesterday, PAGASA issued a final bulletin for Igme. Quitlong said, “There is still that possibility that it might make a U-turn. As of yesterday, the distance between the two cyclones was 1,300 kilometers.”

Once this happens, it would bring rains over the extreme portions of northern Luzon. PAGASA might even raise public storm warning signals in some parts of the country.

In an extreme case, Igme might make land fall somewhere in northern Luzon.

Julian, meanwhile, will be out of the Philippine area of responsibility and head toward the southern part of Japan by this morning.

The eye of Julian was located at 900 kilometers east-northeast of Basco, Batanes at 5 p.m. yesterday, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It is expected to move in a northwest direction at 15 kph.

Northern and central Luzon, and the western section of southern Luzon, western Visayas and Mindanao would experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.