Typhoon Haiyan – one of the strongest on record hits the Phillipines
http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/07/world/asia/philippines-typhoon-haiyan/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
(CNN) — Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever observed, made landfall Friday morning in the Philippines, the country's weather service reported.
Thousands of people in vulnerable areas of the central Philippines were evacuated as the monster storm spun toward the country.
With sustained winds of 315 kph (195 mph) and gusts as strong as 380 kph (235 mph), Haiyan churned across the Western Pacific into the Philippines.
Its wind strength makes it equivalent to an exceptionally strong Category 5 hurricane.
Haiyan will move over the many islands of the central Philippines over the next 18 hours before exiting into the South China Sea overnight Friday into Saturday. Haiyan will weaken slightly as the storm crosses land, but forecasters with the Philippine weather agency, Pagasa, predict that it will maintain super typhoon intensity throughout its passage of the islands.
The storm, known as Yolanda in the Philippines, is so large in diameter that clouds from it are affecting two-thirds of the country, which extends over 1,850 kilometers (1,150 miles).
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1057709?hpt=hp_bn8
Super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) enters PHL
CNN PRODUCER NOTE iReporter leoudtohan captured this video of inclement weather conditions in the Bohol island province in the central Philippines as Typhoon Haiyan bears down on the country. Some low lying areas have been evacuated and locals have prepared by cutting down unstable tree limbs and suspending school classes, he said. Bohol was hit by an earthquake last month which left more than 200 dead and many residents are still in makeshift shelters. Read the latest on Super Typhoon Haiyan from CNN.
- sarahbrowngb, CNN iReport producer
The potential landfall area of this super typhoon is likely along the Northern Leyte on or before noontime on Friday, November 08.
Local disaster officials in Bohol, Philippines, which was affected by 7.2 magnitude earthquake last month, are on red alert, as flashfloods and landslides continue to be a threat.
The province of Bohol is placed under storm signal no. 2.
Families were evacuated in quake-hit towns on Thursday night.
Some fishermen have decided not to set sail while residents in low-lying areas have been advised to prepare for evacuation.
Source: http://poleshift.ning.com/xn/detail/3863141:BlogPost:958825
