Officials brace for storm ‘Samuel’

CEBU, Philippines — Local authorities brace for the entry of a strong weather disturbance that is predicted to cross Cebu island

Members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) convened for an emergency meeting over the weekend to discuss on the preparations of each agency and office.

The Office of Civil Defense in Central Visayas (OCD-Region 7), which heads the council, called for the pre-disaster risk assessment on November 17 in Cebu City to evaluate the preparations of each entity especially for the local disaster units.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)-Visayas also briefed the officials and representatives of the trajectory of tropical depression Samuel and its possible impact to the region.

PAGASA-Visayas OIC chief Alfredo Quiblat, Jr. said according to recent analysis, Samuel is forecasted to make another landfall in Cebu on Tuesday after it passes through Surigao then to Bohol.

If predictions come true, storm warning signals may be hoisted in the province. Sea travels may be cancelled and classes or office works maybe disrupted.

Quiblat, however, said Samuel may recede from its main projected track and would traverse eastern Visayas or northern Luzon.

But there is higher possibility that its track will be similar to tropical storm Seniang, which also hit Cebu last December 2014.

Samuel entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday morning under first tropical cyclone category Tropical Depression.

Quiblat said while it traverses the Philippine waters in the east, it is expected to gain strength and intensify further to third category Severe Tropical Storm.

Once it hits land on Tuesday, he said Samuel may either maintain its strength or most probably weaken due to land interaction and may degrade to tropical storm or back to tropical depression.

Quiblat said as Samuel crosses central Philippines, its wind force may range from 40 to 60 kilometers per hour. The weather bureau may place Cebu under storm warning signal number 1 or 2.

But what is most critical between Tuesday and Wednesday is the intensity of rain Samuel brings.

Quiblat said widespread heavy rains may occur and at times, would suddenly become intense.

He explained that an intense rain may dump at most 30 millimeters of rainwater in an hour. Today, light rains may already be felt in Cebu.

The public are still advised to continue monitoring the latest weather advisories as there may be significant changes of the disturbances' track and strength as its impact to every locality vary.

Samuel is the country’s 19th tropical cyclone this year and the first for the month of November. An average of one to two tropical cyclones develops and enters PAR every November.

Significantly, land-falling weather systems in November and December commonly traverse central and southern Philippines (Visayas and Mindanao regions). (FREEMAN)