Updated on December 16, 2015: After battering Philippines on Tuesday, Typhoon Melor has now moved out of the island nation in South China Sea as a weak Category 1 hurricane. However, the typhoon is still holding winds speed of 140 kmph.
According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the system is shifting southwards and loosing strength continuously. It is now expected to turn into a tropical storm and then into a depression and further a low pressure area.
Melor has shifted far away from coast and is not likely to impact any land mass now.
Updated on December 15, 2015: After undergoing another rapid intensification, and intensifying into an equivalent of Category 4 hurricane, Typhoon Melor made multiple landfalls in Philippines. The storm is expected to make another landfall over Oriental Mindoro soon.
In view of the Typhoon, more than 7,00,000 people have been evacuated resulting in one of the largest mass evacuations in Philippines' history. Albay Province, which is situated 300 miles south of Manila, had most of the evacuations due to fear of flooding and landslides.
The typhoon made a second landfall in the Sorsogon province. Thereafter, another landfall was reported on Batag Island. The centre of the Typhoon may move back into the open waters and make more multiple landfalls over a few of the many islands of the Philippines as it moves westwards.
After making a pair of landfalls, Nona brought flooding rain with gusty winds in Central Philippines killing at least 13 people. Millions of residents in at least seven provinces were left without power as torrential rains continued to batter the region.
After weakening a bit, Melor may undergo further intensification after Wednesday. In the areas, which are hardest hit, power and communication disruption is a possibility.
Older residential structures made of light materials will be particularly vulnerable to damage. Widespread power outages and disruption of communication services is possible in the hardest hit areas. Areas located close to the centre of Typhoon Melor are prone to freshwater and salt-water flooding.
Story First Published on December 14, 2015: Tropical cyclone Melor slammed Philippines on Monday morning after undergoing a sudden marked intensification right before its landfall. The typhoon, locally known as Nona is likely to bring flooding rain with gusty winds over Philippines. The Typhoon is following an east-west path and is likely to cause pounding rain through the heart of Philippines.
The storm poses great threat over Central Philippines including the capital city Manila. Melor made landfall over Batag Island in the eastern Philippines. A second landfall is expected in Sorsogon province. The storm is packed with winds of 150 kmph with gusts of 185 kmph
In view of the storm, thousands have been evacuated. Schools and colleges also remain shut as the residents brace for torrential rain and destructive winds. Melor intensified from a Category 2 storm to a Category 3 storm overnight. The weakening of the storm will depend on the amount of time the eye spends on land.
Flight and ferry services remain disrupted. Many flights have been cancelled in Central Philippines. Nearly 8,000 people remained stranded in ports after all ferry services and fishing was stopped in the central Philippines. The typhoon is likely to cause torrential rain further resulting in landslides and flooding over many areas of Philippines.
Typhoon Melor was plotting a similar path as the category 5 typhoon Haiyan, which had battered the central Philippines in 2013 killing around 8,000 people. Western Pacific has a history of Typhoons emerging at any time of the year. Last year, during the same time Typhoon Hagupit had affected Philippines.
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