Super Typhoon Haiyan, Strongest Tropical Cyclone On Record, Makes Landfall In The Philippines getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Super Typhoon Haiyan, Strongest Tropical Cyclone On Record, Makes Landfall In The Philippines

Super Typhoon Haiyan -- one of the strongest tropical cyclones in world history based on wind speed -- officially made landfall at 4 a.m. local time near Guiuan, on the Phillippine island of Samar. Contact has been lost with the city.

According to Dr. Jeff Masters of Weather Underground, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported that Haiyan had sustained winds of 195 mph (315 kph) and gusts at 235 mph (380 kph), making it the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in world history, breaking the previous record held by Hurricane Camille in 1969, which hit Mississippi with 190 mph (305 kph) winds.

As CNN notes, Haiyan is expected to travel across the islands of the Central Philippines over the next 18 hours before exiting into the South China Sea by Saturday. Philippine weather agency Pagasa says the storm will continue to be classified as a Super Typhoon as it moves through the islands.

In a speech, President Benigno S. Aquino III warned of the "calamity our countrymen will face in these coming days," according to CNN.

"Let me repeat myself: This is a very real danger, and we can mitigate and lessen its effects if we use the information available to prepare," said Aquino, who added that the government has three C-130 cargo aircraft ready, as well as 32 planes and helicopters.

"The effects of this storm can be eased through solidarity," he added.

As Dr. Jeff Masters of Weather Underground reports, Guiuan (population 47,000) likely suffered “catastrophic” damage when Haiyan hit. A 20-mile long storm surge also likely caused significant destruction. Tacloban (population 221,000) will also experience the wrath of Haiyan, as most of the city is at an elevation of less than ten feet.

The strongest part of Haiyan’s eyewall is now “battering” the southern part of the city, according to Masters, who also added that Haiyan’s winds, rains and storm surge will cause “widespread devastation” throughout Central Philippines.

Thousands of people have already been evacuated so far. According to CNN, the storm system, with a diameter of roughly 500 miles (800 kilometers), will affect roughly 25 million people.

Super Typhoon Haiyan, Strongest Tropical Cyclone On Record, Makes Landfall In The Philippines

Super Typhoon Haiyan, Strongest Hurricane Of The Year, Barrels Toward Philippines getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Super Typhoon Haiyan, Strongest Hurricane Of The Year, Barrels Toward Philippines

Super Typhoon Haiyan is barreling toward the Philippines as one of the strongest storms in recorded history threatens the lives and property of millions of residents of the island nation.

The Category 5 hurricane, called Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, is currently producing sustained 190 mph winds and gusts as fierce as 230 mph, according to CNN, which reports that it is being described as the year's worst storm anywhere on earth, as well as one of the strongest of all time.

The Philippine national weather service, PAGASA, has recommended that people living in vulnerable areas may be subjected to flashfloods and landslides, and storm surges of up to seven meters, urging them to find higher ground.

The storm will likely make its way across the central Philippines late Thursday and early Friday as a Category 4 storm, according to PAGASA. Rains are currently sweeping across more than two-thirds of the country as the hurricane approaches landfall.

Haiyan is the fourth typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, The Weather Channel reported, a busy hurricane season coming on the heels of Typhoon Bopha, which killed more than 1,000 people and caused vast damage last December.

President Benigno S. Aquino III warned residents about the seriousness of Typhoon Haiyan via a national television address on Thursday, making a plea for people to evacuate the areas expected to be hit the hardest, and to prepare for the worst.

"Let me repeat myself: This is a very real danger, and we can mitigate and lessen its effects if we use the information available to prepare," he said, according to CNN.

The U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center, based in Hawaii, said Thursday that the storm is moving northwest at about 22 knots and "has maintained a sharply defined eye with multiple concentric rings and a deep convective eye wall ... Due to the extremely favorable environmental conditions and recent intensification, the system is expected to remain at super typhoon intensity over the next 24 hours" NPR reported, adding that the storm will continue on to Vietnam after tearing through the Philippines.

Super Typhoon Haiyan, Strongest Hurricane Of The Year, Barrels Toward Philippines