Bagyong Helen Weather Update August 14, 2012

August 14, 2012 at 4:00 a.m. today, Tropical Storm "HELEN" was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 310 km East of Casiguran, Aurora (16.6°N 125.4°E) with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph. near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 15 kph. 

Signal No. 2: Isabela and Cagayan will experience stormy weather while Signal No. 1: Northern Luzon, Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mt. Province and Abra will have rains with gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be rough to very rough. The rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will experience cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of Visayas and Mindanao will be mostly cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. 

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Southwest will prevail over the rest of the country and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough.


Meanwhile, the water level in major dams remain critical due to downpour from Helen as well as the southwest monsoon rains last week.

Authorities have opened gates in the following dams as of August 13, 2012 at 8:00 a.m.
Angat dam, three gates at 3 meters each, releasing water at 440 cubic meters per second (cms)
Magat dam, two gates at 3 meters each, 702 cms;
Binga dam, three gates at 2.5 meters each, 248 cms;
San Roque dam, one gate at 0.5 meter, 330 cms;
Ipo dam, four gates at 3.3 meters each, 474 cms;
Ambuklao dam, two gates at 1.5 meters each, 248 cms.

Bagyong Helen Update

Bagyong Helen is now a Tropical Storm and is now threatening Northern Luzon, the PAGASA reported Monday, August 13, 2012.

As of 11:00 a.m. the state weather bureau's bulletin is the center of  Bagyong Helen was located based on satellite and surface data at 540 km East Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora (17.0°N, 127.8°E). Packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph, the tropical cyclone West Northwestward at the rate of 13 kph, the PAGASA said.

PAGASA has hoisted Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1 over the following areas: Isabela, , Kalinga, Apayao, Cagayan, Babuyan, Calayan Group of Islands, and Batanes Group of Islands.

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides." PAGASA wrote. "Tropical Storm  Helen is expected to enhance the Southwest Monsoon that will bring rains over Luzon and Visayas especially over the western section. 

Estimated rainfall amount is from 15 - 35 mm per hour (heavy - torrential) within 400 km diameter of Tropical Storm. Intermittent light to moderate rains (2.5 - 7.5 mm/hr) are now affecting Central and Southern Luzon becoming more frequent moderate to heavy rains (7.5 - 10.0 mm/hr) during the latter part of the day towards the evening over Camarines provinces, Quezon province, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro, Bataan, Zambales and Metro Manila.