Domeng weakens; surge threat gone

CEBU, Philippines - Project NOAH has removed its storm surge advisory after tropical depression Domeng dissipated into a low pressure area yesterday morning,.

Posted via blog.noah.gov.ph, Project Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH), the information technology-based research arm of the Department of Technology, informed the public that there are no more coastal barangays in any of the Visayas and Mindanao regions that are in danger of of a possible rise in sea water level.

“The list of localities with highest predicted storm surge has been removed. As of 5:00 AM 10 April 2014, Tropical Depression Domeng has weakened to a low pressure area (LPA) according to PAGASA. There will be no further update unless the LPA intensifies,” the NOAH web blog read.

The same agency started releasing Monday the highest predicted storm surge list in certain coastal barangays, particulary those in the provinces of Cebu Negros Oriental, Samar, Leyte, and Biliran, generated using the Japan Meteorological Agency Storm Surge Model.

Updates were posted on the same web address shortly after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration released its weather forecast.

PAGASA Mactan Chief Al Quiblat said there is a slim chance that the former tropical cyclone will regain its strength.

“It will continue to be a low pressure area and mostly likely not become a tropical cyclone again. But it will still bring light to moderate rains. Cebu will continue to be partly cloudy. We must be watchful for an afternoon thunderstorm cloud with hot temperature early in the day, the same situation that caused the cyclonic tornado in Mambaling,” Quiblat said.

Midday yesterday, Cebu experienced a rather hot temperature between 26 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius, particularly peaking at 2 p.m. to 3 p.m..

“Because we are in the dry season also called summer, temperature range is normally 25 to 32 degrees expected in the month of April. The month of May is the hottest with an average temperature range of 33 to 34 in our Mactan office which is properly vegetated. In the city proper, it is expected to be more than two degrees,” Quiblat said.

He said that this year is expected to have fewer tropical cyclones following an alternating pattern of active and inactive years he observed.  (FREEMAN)