Weather Today May 2, 2009

Tropical Depression DANTE (94W) has started to drift NE during the past 3 hours, crossing Sorsogon...now off the east coast of Sorsogon. Moderate to heavy rains prevailing across Southern Bicol particularly Masbate, Burias-Ticao Islands, Albay & Sorsogon.*Residents and visitors along the Bicol Peninsula, Northern Samar and Southern Quezon should closely monitor the progress of DANTE.

Forecast Outlook: DANTE is now expected to take a slow NE to NNE drift for the next 12 to 24 hours, passing near the east coast of Catanduanes tonight. The 2 to 3-day Medium Range Forecast now shows DANTE accelerating ENE following the path of another system (Tropical Disturbance 95/LPA) WNW of Guam which has been moving Northward.

Time/Date: 12:00 PM PST Sat May 02 2009

Location of Center: 13.1º N Lat 124.5º E Lon

Distance 1: 55 km (30 nm) East of Sorsogon CityDistance

MaxWinds (10-min avg): 55 kph (30 kts) near the center

Peak Wind Gusts: 70 kph (38 kts)

Saffir-Simpson Scale: Tropical Depression

Coastal Storm Surge Height: 0 feet [0.0 m]

Central Pressure: 1006 millibars (hPa)

Recent Movement: NE @ 04 kph (02 kts)

General Direction: Coastal Catanduanes

Size (in Diameter): 400 km (215 nm) / Average

Max Sea Wave Height (near center): 8 ft (2.4 m)

T2K TrackMap (for Public): 12 PM PST Sat May 2J

TWC Ship Avoidance Final TrackMap: 12Z Thu Dec 18 new!

PHILIPPINE STORM SIGNAL # THREE (3) In Effect: BATANES GROUP OF ISLANDS. PHILIPPINE STORM WARNING SIGNAL # TWO (2) In Effect: METRO Now lowered: CATANDUANES.

The above areas will experience stormy weather today (with winds of up to 100 kph for #02).
PHILIPPINE STORM WARNING SIGNAL # ONE (1) In Effect: CAMARINES SUR, CAMARINES NORTE, ALBAY, SORSOGON, CATANDUANES, MASBATE, BURIAS & TICAO ISLANDS, SOUTHERN QUEZON & NORTHERN SAMAR.

Now lowered: EASTERN & WESTERN SAMAR, BILIRAN, LEYTE PROVINCES, NORTHERN CEBU, BOHOL, DINAGAT PROVINCE, SIARGAO ISLAND, SURIGAO DEL NORTE, SURIGAO DEL SUR, & AGUSAN DEL NORTE.

The above areas will have rains and winds of not more than 60 kph today. Coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Residents living in river banks, low-lying and mountainous areas under Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1 are alerted against flashfloods, mudflows, mudslides and landslides.

Source: T2K

/alb