NASA Detects Tropical Storm Over Central Philippines

NASA's Aqua satellite has detected infrared data on Tropical Storm Kajiki as it engulfed the central Philippines. The storm is the result of the second tropical depression during the Northwestern Pacific Ocean season. 

The storm is further affecting the Philippines, which have experienced moderate to heavy rainfall over the past few months as a result of two tropical depressions. Kajiki (known as "Basyang" in the Philippines) is expected to continue through February 1^st with rain and heavy winds. The winds were recorded at 16-miles-per-hour today, but are expected to dramatically increase as the storm progresses.

PAGASA, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, has issued Warning Signals #1 and Warning Signals #2 for designated regions of the Philippines. Public Storm Warning #1 calls for winds between 30 and 60 kilometers-per-hour within 36 hours. Public Storm Warning #2 calls for potential impacts of winds from 61 to 100 kilometers-per-hour within 24 hours.

Warning Signals #1 have been issued for Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Masbate and Ticao Island, Northern Samar, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, rest of Agusan del Norte, rest of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Northern part of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Norte. Warning Signals #2 have been issued for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument that accompanies the Aqua satellite was able to show powerful storms near the center and western quadrants of Kajiki through capturing cloud temperatures. The thunderstorms that were already affecting these areas had cloud top temperatures of at least -63F/-52C, suggesting heavy potential rainfall and strong uplifts. 

The tropical depression is located near 9.8 north latitude and 126.1 east longitude, which is about 530 miles southeast of Manila. Kajiki is moving at 25 kilometers-per-hour. All of the information was recorded today, January 31^st.

The storm is expected to wither away over the South China Sea within the next few days. To read more about the details of the Kajiki, visit this EurekAlert! article.