Please send thoughts and prayers to HAL's Filipino crew families

[sppunk]

Super Typhoon Haiyan is soon (4-6 hours from this posting) to slam into the Phillipines as one of the strongest storms in history. It has sustained winds at least at 170 knots are might have the lowest pressure in history (sub 870mb).

 

Many, many HAL crew are of course from the Phillipines so I want to send prayers to them and their families as this storm hits the islands.

 

This storm equals and likely passes Typhoon Tip if anyone knows the region's weather history.

Edited November 7, 2013 by sppunk
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[sail7seas]

Very frightening.

We certainly send our prayers for safety of all and most especially the families of HAL crews.

 

[myheart53]

Thank you for letting us know. They will most certainly be on my prayer list. This is most frightening for them I am sure.

[woodworker&knitter]

Thank you for letting us know. We certainly will keep them in our prayers.

[geocruiser]

The winds now are 190 miles per hour. This is just awful.

 

http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/?index_region=wp

Edited November 7, 2013 by geocruiser

[innlady1]

Thank you...that is really frightening. I can't imagine being on a ship, worrying about family back home. I will keep them in my prayers.

[summersigh]

So horrible!!

Prayers are going out from us ...:(

[alwaysfrantic]

Oh wow. This sounds terrible. I'm really thinking about the crew members who can't connect with their loved ones to know how they are doing. Very frightening. :(

[Fouremco]

Super Typhoon Haiyan is soon (4-6 hours from this posting) to slam into the Phillipines as one of the strongest storms in history. It has sustained winds at least at 170 knots are might have the lowest pressure in history (sub 870mb).

 

Many, many HAL crew are of course from the Phillipines so I want to send prayers to them and their families as this storm hits the islands.

 

This storm equals and likely passes Typhoon Tip if anyone knows the region's weather history.

Without wishing to diminish the gravity of the situation for residents of the Philippines, Haiyan is being consistently reported as the strongest storm THIS YEAR, not the strongest in history. Moreover, although currently a Category 5 typhoon, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center believes this storm will be a reduced but still powerful Category 4 storm with sustained winds around 145 mph (125 knots) when it hits on Friday, not later today.

 

This is the fifth to affect the Philippines this year. Typhoon Utor, which had sustained winds of 140 mph, hit the Philippines in August and caused an estimated $25 million dollars in damage. The Philippines typically average eight to nine storms per year, so activity has been slightly below average.

 

[CruiseWhere]

Our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to all the crew and our friends...

[kazu]

Our thoughts and prayers with everyone.

[Vict0riann]

A very scary time - I lived in Manila as a child, and remember being afraid of the floods. I almost got sucked down a drain that was missing its cover! And there were things, insects, etc., in the water, that were desperate, and bit me. Trivial, I know, but just what I remember. I think our house, at least, was safe and well-built. Not all are, of course. It looks as if the typhoon may be heading for the Visayas, a lot of the crew come from Cebu, so I will be thinking of all of them and praying their families are safe.

 

And Amsterdam is in those waters, too, isn't she?

Edited November 7, 2013 by Vict0riann

[sppunk]

Without wishing to diminish the gravity of the situation for residents of the Philippines, Haiyan is being consistently reported as the strongest storm THIS YEAR, not the strongest in history. Moreover, although currently a Category 5 typhoon, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center believes this storm will be a reduced but still powerful Category 4 storm with sustained winds around 145 mph (125 knots) when it hits on Friday, not later today.

 

This is the fifth to affect the Philippines this year. Typhoon Utor, which had sustained winds of 140 mph, hit the Philippines in August and caused an estimated $25 million dollars in damage. The Philippines typically average eight to nine storms per year, so activity has been slightly below average.

 

I don't want to start an argument, but Tip holds the record for lowest mb reading - this storm is stronger and will have IMO record winds. This is easily a top 5 typhoon of all time and I believe will go down as the strongest ever after examine readings. It is a Advanced Dvorak Technique 8.1 scale if you follow scientific data analysis for tropical systems, that's never been reached in history.

 

Established winds are now at 190-196 mph with gusts to 230 mph.

 

The storm is 3-5 hours from landfall, fwiw, and visible on local radar now when looking at PGAGAS Guiuan Station.

Edited November 7, 2013 by sppunk

[sppunk]

Tacloban City will bear nearly direct force from this storm and is forecast to see a storm tide/surge of 15 feet.

 

For anyone interested, here is an image of the path and intensity.

 

A few storm chasers are there are will be riding it out. You can follow their updates at https://twitter.com/ExtremeStorms and https://twitter.com/typhoonfury.

[donamae]

Seems to me Amsterdam is in that area. Yikes. Stay safe.

dm

[mamaofami]

Praying for the safety of all in the storm's way.

[durangoscots]

Seems to me Amsterdam is in that area. Yikes. Stay safe.

dm

 

The Amsterdam has left Manilla Jeff reported they would miss Yap because of this storm. They seem to be dodging it.

 

 

Susan

[Saphire]

Oh No, this looks so bad! I will be adding my prayers to all of yours.

[brazilgirl]

So frightening...as a previous poster said , it must be terrifying to know your family is in danger and not be able to do anything. Praying for the best.

[sppunk]

She has judging by radar likely made landfall and the eye appears it will pass over Toclaban City save a late wobble.

 

God be with all those in path of this monster.

Edited November 7, 2013 by sppunk

[OCruisers]

Thoughts & Prayers to the many wonderful Filipino crew and their families. Also, to ALL in the path of this horrid storm.

 

LuLu

[ger_77]

I've been watching the weather channel throughout the day for updates for 2 reasons - all the families of the HAL employees, and for the government offices and employees there that process visas. Our DIL is waiting for a visa, and depending on the damage, it could take much longer than anticipated.

 

Prayers and good thoughts going out to all involved.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[aliaschief]

Our thoughts and prayers for the Philippines tonight and all family's of our beloved Filipino crew members.

[Linda&Vern]

What I'm reading (NBC News) sounds like it already hit:

"One of the strongest storms ever slammed into the Philippines early Friday, packing wind speeds so high that a weather expert said were poised to make it the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded at landfall."

 

"There will be catastrophic damage," Jeff Masters, a former hurricane meteorologist who is meteorology director at the private firm Weather Underground, told The Associated Press."

Edited November 8, 2013 by Linda&Vern

[startwin]

The Philippines sure gets more than it's fair share of natural disasters. It must be awful for the crew members at sea, worrying about their families. Thoughts are with them.