Typhoon 'Lawin' expected to spare Bicol

Tropical Storm Lawin (International name: JELAWAT) is rapidly gaining strength as it moves west-southwestward slowly over the warm Philippine Sea and it is expected to cause heavy rains in the Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region and eastern Luzon provinces. Storm signal number 1 is now raised over Eastern Samar as its center was spotted at 6:00 P.M. today 521 kilometers (km.) East-Northeast of Borongan City.

An average size storm with a diameter of 555 km, Lawin is now moving west-southwest to westward towards the general direction of Eastern Samar with an average center wind of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness up to 100 kph. However, within 36 to 72 hours, Lawin will make a gradual turn towards the Northwest and will pass 455 km East of Legazpi City as Category 1 typhoon (wind velocity of 150 kph) on Sunday evening. It shall be a Category 2 typhoon (wind velocity of 165 kph) when it passed East-Northeast of Pandan, Catanduanes Monday evening.

If all forecasts hold, Bicol region is not expected to take direct hit from Lawin. (Typhoon2000.com)