Typhoon Pablo, internationally known as Bopha, made a painful visit to the Philippines. Although its effects gave a shock to everyone most especially to those in affected areas, its entry into the Philippines was reported days before, as early as November 29, 2012.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center was constantly releasing typhoon track models. Early forecasts reveals that Bopha will be hitting the Visasyas.
On November 30, 2012, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) issued a bulletin for the provincial, municipal, and other local DRRMCs informing them of the incoming Typhoon.
PAGASA started issuing updates for Typhoon Bopha on December 1, 2012
24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST
ISSUED AT: 5:00 AM 01 December 2012SYNOPSIS: At 2:00 am today, the Typhoon with an international name “BOPHA” (1224) was located based on satellite and surface data at 1,760 km East of Southern Mindanao (4.5°N,143.0°E). It is forecast to move West at 20 kph. It is embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Mindanao.
On December 2, 2012, Sunday, PAGASA started to release announcements and updates for Typhoon Pablo.
On their second weather bulletin, PAGASA already issued a Storm Signal warning to the different areas that might be affected by the storm. Here, it was evident that Mindanao was most likely to be directly affected.
On their 3rd bulletin, PAGASA already the storm level in two areas here in Mindanao.
Weather Bulletin Number THREE
Tropical Cyclone Warning: Typhoon “PABLO” (BOPHA)
Issued at 5:00 a.m., Monday, 03 December 2012Signal No. 2
(61-100 kph winds)
- Surigao del Sur
- Northern part of Davao Oriental
Sat Pic 4:30 a.m., Monday, 03 December 2012
By their fourth update (Issued at 11:00 a.m., Monday, 03 December 2012) , they raised the storm level to Signal #3 in these areas as Typhoon Pablo was just 550 km Southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur:
- Surigao del Sur
- Surigao del Norte
- Siargao
- Dinagat
- Agusan del Norte
- Agusan del Sur
- Davao Oriental
Sat Pic 10:30 a.m., Monday, 03 December 2012
While also raising the storm warning level to Signal #2 to these areas:
- Surigao del Sur
- Surigao del Norte
- Siargao
- Dinagat
- Agusan del Norte
- Agusan del Sur
- Davao Oriental
On their fifth update, issued at 5:00 p.m., Monday, 03 December 2012, the whole province of Compostela Valley (COmVal) was already included on the list of areas with Storm Signal #3.
On December 4, 2012 at around 4:30 AM, Typhoon Pablo made landfall at Baganga, Davao Oriental.
By 01:00 p.m. of December 04, 2012, the eye of Typhoon Pablo was seen 40 km west of Cagayan De Oro (CDO).
In the image below, you’ll see the clout of Typhoon Pablo. Imagine that covering the whole Mindanao for 9 hours.
Photo believed to be from NASA
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