The latest storm information from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that storm Emong (international name: Co May) strengthened into a typhoon on the morning of July 24 as it moved near Dagupan City, Philippines.
Typhoon Emong, the fourth typhoon in the South China Sea, is 220km west of Dagupan city. The storm is intensifying, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h and gusts of up to 150 km/h.
Meanwhile, the low pressure formed 2,080 km east of southeastern Luzon, outside the Philippines' forecast area, and strengthened into a tropical depression at around 8 a.m. the same day. This tropical depression is recording sustained winds of 45 km/h, gusts of up to 55 km/h. The system is moving north-northeast at a speed of 15 km/h.
The tropical depression has not yet been named because it is outside the Philippines' forecast area. If it enters the Philippine Sea before another system forms, the tropical depression will be locally named Fabian.
Pagasa is also watching storm Dante (international name Francisco), which is now closer to northern Luzon, 735km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with a wind maintenance of 75 km/h, sometimes up to 90 km/h.
Emong is moving south-southeast while subtropical storm subtropical and northwest at a speed of 30 km/h.
Philippine typhoon forecasters predict Emong will make landfall in the Ilocos region of the Philippines overnight or early morning of July 25.
According to the forecast of the Philippine weather agency, rain from 100 to 200mm will fall on many areas of Luzon Island, including the Manila urban area, due to the southwest monsoon or habagat being enhanced by Typhoon Emong and Typhoon Dante.
Other affected areas include the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna and Rizal expected heavy rain.
PAGASA warns of potential impacts such as flooding, especially in urbanized areas, low-lying areas or near rivers. Landslides are also likely to occur at medium to very high levels in affected areas.
The Philippine National Weather Service noted that people in Bataan, Occidental Mindoro and Zambales province may see heavy rain expected to reach 200mm by July 25.
PAGASA leader Nathaniel Servando warned: "People in the three provinces of Luzon need to take additional precautions as there is a risk of severe flooding and landslides over a wide area." He noted that Emong alone brought 200mm of rain to Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales and Benguet.
