North Cebu prepares for typhoon Nona

CEBU, Philippines - The state weather bureau has placed northern Cebu including Camotes Island under storm signal No. 1 as of last night typhoon due to typhoon Nona.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration, Nona may cause very light or no damage to low risk structures; light damage to medium to high risk structures; slight damage to some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in exposed communities; twigs of small trees and banana plants may be damaged; rice crops, however, may suffer significant damage if it is in its flowering stage.

 Northern Cebu towns which were badly hit by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013 were placed under “alert level alpha” since yesterday. Alert level alpha means that all personnel involved in disaster preparedness are ready for deployment.

Engineer Oscar Tabada, chief weather specialist of PAGASA, said northern Cebu will be affected by heavy rains and strong winds as Nona hovers over east of Catarman, Northern Samar yesterday.

 In its 5 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said the center of Nona was spotted 440 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar. It has maximum winds of 140 kilometers per hour near the center with gustiness of up to 170 kph. It is forecasted to move west northwest at the speed of 19 kph. It is expected to be at 150 kilometers east southeast of Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro on Tuesday morning.

Tabada said the typhoon would bring gustiness of up to 45-60 kilometers per hour in northern Cebu. The rest of Cebu Province and Metro Cebu, on the other hand, will be experiencing light to moderate/heavy rains and winds up to 30 kph until Tuesday with expected wave heights of 1.25-4 meters in open sea.

Tabada said all are advised to take precautionary measures against heavy rains, strong winds, lightning and possible flashfloods.

 PAGASA  said thunderstorm is expected to affect the towns of Pilar, Alicia, Dagohoy, San Miguel, Trinidad and Danao in Bohol, Tuburan, Catmon, Sogod, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova, and Camotes Island in Bohol.

Typhoon Nona entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday. It was originally named Noynoy but the state weather bureau changed the name to Nona to spare President Benigno “Nonoy” Aquino III from possible public ridicule.

As of last night, the other areas under public storm signal No. 1 are southern Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Masbate including Burias Island, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Province and Siargao Island.

 Under storm signal No. 2 were Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Ticao Island, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Samar. (FREEMAN)