Philippine tropical cyclones

Isang stays far from Philippines after strengthening into tropical storm

Acor Arceo

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Isang stays far from Philippines after strengthening into tropical storm

ISANG. Satellite image of Tropical Storm Isang (Omais) as of August 21, 2021, 5 am.

NOAA

Tropical Storm Isang (Omais) is 790 kilometers east northeast of Calayan, Cagayan, early Saturday, August 21

Tropical Storm Isang (Omais) turned north northwest over the Philippine Sea before dawn on Saturday, August 21, as it continued to stay far from the country’s landmass.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 am bulletin that Isang was located 790 kilometers east northeast of Calayan, Cagayan, or 725 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes.

The tropical storm is moving north northwest at 15 kilometers per hour (km/h).

Since Isang will maintain its distance, it has no impact on any part of the country. It is not bringing rain, there are no tropical cyclone wind signals raised, and it is not enhancing the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat.

PAGASA expects Isang to head generally northwest or north northwest from Saturday to Sunday, August 22; north northwest over the East China Sea on Monday, August 23; then north and north northeast also on Monday.

The tropical storm could already leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday afternoon or evening.

Isang had intensified from a tropical depression into a tropical storm on Friday night, August 20. It was given the international name Omais, which was contributed by the United States.

The tropical storm maintained its strength early Saturday, with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.

PAGASA said Isang is projected to strengthen in the coming hours, until Saturday evening or Sunday morning, when it may reach its peak intensity.

Afterwards, Isang could start weakening by mid- to late Sunday, and eventually be downgraded back to a tropical depression by Monday night. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

Meanwhile, PAGASA said isolated rain showers or thunderstorms are still expected in the country on Saturday due to the easterlies.

The easterlies are warm winds coming from the Pacific Ocean.

PROJECTED PATH. Forecast track of Tropical Storm Isang (Omais) as of August 21, 2021, 5 am.
PAGASA

Isang is the Philippines’ ninth tropical cyclone for 2021 and the third for August.

An average of 20 tropical cyclones form within or enter PAR each year. (READ: LIST: PAGASA’s names for tropical cyclones in 2021)

These are PAGASA’s latest available estimates per month:

2021
  • August – 2 or 3
  • September – 2 or 3
  • October – 2 or 3
  • November – 2 or 3
  • December – 1 or 2
2022
  • January – 0 or 1

The rainy season has been underway since early June. – Rappler.com

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Acor Arceo

Acor Arceo is the head of copy and editorial standards at Rappler. Trained in both online and TV newsrooms, Acor ensures consistency in editorial standards across all sections and also supervises Rappler’s coverage of disasters.