Tropical Storm “Pakhar” (Jolina) hits Philippines, heading toward Hong Kong

Tropical Storm "Pakhar," known in the Philippines as Jolina, made landfall in Aurora province on Friday, August 25, 2017. The storm is dumping moderate to heavy rainfall within 300 km (186 miles) from the center. After passing over the Philippines, Pakhar is expected to strengthen and make landfall in China's Guangdong Province, just south of Hong Kong and Macau, around 18:00 UTC on August 27. This is the same region devastated by Typhoon "Hato" just a few days ago.

At 21:00 UTC on August 25, the center of Tropical Storm "Pakhar" (Jolina) was located somewhere in the vicinity of Aguinaldo, Ifugao, approximately 235 km (146 miles) north of Manila, Philippines and has tracked northwestward at 20 km/h (13 mph) over the past 6 hours.

According to PAGASA, Pakhar has maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h (46 mph) near the center and gusts up to 120 km/h (74 mph).

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #2 (61 – 120 km/h / 38 – 74 mph) is in effect for Isabela, Quirino, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Benguet, Abra, La Union and Nueva Vizcaya. TCWS #1 (30 – 60 km/h / 18 – 37 mph) is in effect for Aurora, Cagayan including Babuyan group of islands, Apayao, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan. Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals elsewhere are now lowered or lifted. 

Wave height at open sea is 1.25 to 4 m (4 – 13 feet).

Estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within the 300 km (186 miles) from the center of the storm.

Meanwhile, monsoon rains are expected over the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon, while light to moderate with possible occasionally heavy rains due to thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of Luzon. Residents in these areas, as well as those under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals 2 and 1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. 

Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon.

Tropical Storm "Pakhar" at 21:20 UTC on August 25, 2017. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8

Tropical Storm "Pakhar" JTWC forecast track on August 25, 2017

After passing over the Philippines, Pakhar is expected to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane equivalent and make landfall in China's Guangdong Province around 18:00 UTC on August 27, the same region devastated by Typhoon "Hato" just a few days ago.

Featured image: Tropical Storm "Pakhar" at 15:30 UTC on August 25, 2017. Credit: NOAA/JMA