Philippine Typhoon Watch: HELEN July 18, 2008

Satellite Image for 4 a.m., 18 July 2008

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration.

Synopsis: At 2:00 a.m. today, the eye of Typhoon "HELEN" was located based on satellite and surface data at 430 kms north northwest of Basco, Batanes (24.5ºN, 121.5ºE) with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gust of up to 150 kph. It is moving north northwest at 17 kph.

Forecast: Extreme Northern Luzon will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms while the western section of Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon with moderate to rough seas. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the east to southeast with slight to moderate seas except during thunderstorms.

Philippine Typhoon Watch: Helen July 17, 2008

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration.

Synopsis: At 2:00 p.m. today, Typhoon "HELEN" was located based on satellite and surface data at 290 kms north northeast of Basco, Batanes (23.1ºN, 122.6ºE) with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph. It is moving north northwest at 17 kph.

Forecast: The Batanes group of islands will experience rains with occasional gusty winds and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. The rest of Extreme Northern Luzon and Western Luzon will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over the rest of Luzon with moderate to rough seas. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southeast to southwest with slight to moderate seas except during thunderstorms.

Philippine Typhoon Watch: July 16, 2008

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

Synopsis: At 2:00 am today, Tropical Storm "HELEN" was estimated based on radar, satellite and surface data at 140 kms East of Aparri, Cagayan (18.5ºN, 123.2ºE) with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center with gustiness of up to 100 kph. Moving West Northwest at 7 kph.

Forecast:Extreme Northern Luzon and Isabela will have stormy weather with rough to very rough seas while the rest of northern Luzon and aurora will have rains and gusty winds with moderate to rough coastal waters. the rest of Luzon and Visayas particularly the western sections will experience monsoon rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides. Mindanao will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Southwest will prevail over the rest of Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the Southeast to Southwest with slight to moderate seas except during thunderstorms.