Severe Tropical Storm Durian (Reming)

Obtained From Wikipedia

An area of disturbed weather developed southeast of Chuuk on November 24. Wind shear near the disturbance soon decreased, allowing the depression to organize a little. It was designated a tropical depression by Japan Meteorological Agency on November 25, and later that day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center started issuing warnings on the system as it moved west-northwest towards Yap. The depression strengthened because it was in an area of high sea-surface temperatures, and there were distinct cloud features of anticyclonic outflow, according to the JMA. It was upgraded to a tropical storm on the afternoon of November 26 and named Durian. The name Durian refers to a fruit, Durio zibethinus, and was submitted to the naming list by Thailand. Moving west to west-northwestward, Durian intensified slowly. It became a severe tropical storm on November 27, and the next day it was named Reming by PAGASA when it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Later on November 28, the JTWC upgraded it to a typhoon as the storm moved closer towards Manila.

Current storm information

At 1500 UTC November 28, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported Severe Tropical Storm Durian to be located near 12.3°N 130.5°E, with maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 60 kt (110 km/h, 70 mph). It had a minimum central pressure of 970 hPa, and was moving west at 17 knots. At 1500 UTC, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported Typhoon 24W to be about 640 nm (1185 km, 735 miles) east of Manila, with maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 65 knots (120 km/h, 75 mph), gusting to 80 knots (150 km/h, 90 mph).

• See the latest JMA advisory on Severe Tropical Storm Durian.
• See the latest JTWC advisory on Typhoon 24W.
• See the latest PAGASA advisory on Tropical Storm Reming.
• See the latest NWS WFO Guam public advisory on Typhoon Durian (24W).

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'Super Typhoon' Durian Intesifies Over Eastern Philippines
11/29/2006 -- Fox News

Officials suspended school classes in Manila and nearby provinces Wednesday after Typhoon Durian gained strength as it barreled toward an eastern Philippine island.

With sustained winds of 119 miles per hour and gusts of up to 140 mph the cyclone — named after a pungent fruit native to Southeast Asia — has become a super typhoon, said chief weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz.

Cruz said officials approved his recommendation to suspend Thursday's classes in metropolitan Manila and four nearby provinces. Classes already have been suspended on the island province of Catanduanes, where the typhoon is expected to slam ashore Thursday morning, and in five other eastern provinces with the highest storm alerts.

More than 25 provinces and the Philippine capital, Manila, are under storm alerts.

Moving westward at a relatively fast 15 mph, Manila or the region just south of it could be battered by the typhoon Friday morning.

Antonio Golez, deputy chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said all local governments and agencies in the affected areas have been alerted for emergency operations.

He said his agency also has directed billboard owners to pull down their tarpaulins to prevent a repeat of the collapse of many such structures, killing at least one person, when another typhoon hit Manila in September.

Cruz said the central Bicol region, about 185 miles southeast of Manila, was already feeling the effects of the typhoon with rains and winds.

He warned residents in low-lying and coastal areas to watch out for storm surges, or big waves generated by strong winds.

In late September, Typhoon Xangsane left 230 people dead and missing in and around Manila. Typhoon Cimaron killed 19 people and injured 58 others late last month, and earlier this month, Chebi sliced through the central Luzon region, killing one.

About 20 typhoons and tropical storms lash the Philippines each year.

Mayor Noel Rosal of Legazpi city in northeastern Albay province, one of the areas ravaged by the previous typhoons, said disaster response agencies were working overtime to prepare for possible emergencies.

"Electric power hasn't even been restored to some villages. But now that the threat is here, we have no choice but to prepare," Rosal told Manila Radio DZRH.

In central Sorsogon province, Mayor Guillermo So said the coast guard barred ferries from leaving ports to prevent accidents.

Vietnam - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

I visited Hanoi (Nov 12-17) and Ho Chi minh City (Nov 17-21) to support the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Here is the 2006 APEC link. In the limited time I had off, I went shopping and bought a chess set with carved figurines, some chopsticks, some coasters and some vietnamese figurines. Vietnam is an interesting country. In Hanoi, the government more strict but the driving is easier than in Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon), the largest city in Vietnam.

Here is an excerpt of the driving situation which i found to be more chaotic than in Manila but no one seems to get in accidents too frequently.

"The road network throughout Vietnam is reasonable but the standard of the roads varies dramatically from good to appalling. In theory, traffic drives on the right but in practice drivers take the most direct path avoiding the many thousands of bicycles, motorbikes and animals in the road. As self-driven car hire is non-existent, visitors to the country have to hire a car with a driver. Most will agree that this is the only way until the country introduces and enforces a system of road rules. There are basic rules, such as you must stop at a red light and headlights must be used at night but that tends to be as far as it goes. Long-term foreign residents are allowed to drive a car but few are brave enough to do so, preferring to employ a Vietnamese chauffeur. It is safe to assume that if a foreigner is driving a car involved in an accident, they will automatically be assumed to be at fault."

While in Hanoi, we worked at the Sheraton which was really nice and since all the rooms were booked so I stayed at the Sunny Hotel. Hanoi is interesting but there is a lot more to do in ho Chi Minh City. While we were shopping in the market, a lady came up to me and put her hat and banana/pineapple sling (similar to the one in the picture on the right) on my shoulder to take a picture.

In Ho Chi Minh City they offer tours of the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive network of tunnels used by the New Liberation Front guerrilas during the Vietnam War, which are about a 40 minute ride away from the New World Hotel where we stayed.