The Swinden Group’s Severe Weather Advisories

Two dangerous Category 4 storms are taking aim at Luzon, Philippines and the Northern Marianas Islands and may cause widespread damage for both regions.

Evergreen, CO, October 2, 2009 – The Swinden Group, through their Severe Weather Advisories, has been monitoring and advising their corporate and traveling clients of two potentially dangerous and deadly typhoons in the Western Pacific.

Typhoon Parma taking aim at Luzon, Philippines

As of 1500 UTC October 2, 2009, Typhoon Parma was located 230 nautical miles east-northeast of Manila, Philippines and tracking to the northwest. With sustained winds of 133 mph and gusts of up to 160 mph, this is a very dangerous category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale of 1 to 5. With the current track and speed, the center of Parma should make landfall in less than 12 hours near Northern Aurora. Heavy rains and high winds are already battering the region.

“I am afraid this storm may prove devastating for Luzon,” explains Matthew Swinden, President of the Swinden Group. “If there is some good news with a category 4 slamming into a region, it is that once Parma encounters the mountainous region of Luzon, it will weaken. However, the bad news is that some computer models have the storm stalling in the Luzon Straight, thus spinning and drenching Luzon with torrential rains possibly measured in feet for several days causing widespread flooding and landslides.”

Hurricane force winds extend outward 80 nautical miles and tropical storm force winds extend out 210 nm from the center, so Parma has a rather large damaging wind footprint. Interests in the northern Philippines should rush to completion of their preparations for this powerful storm.

Typhoon Melor to bowl through the Northern Marianas Islands

Further east in the Western Pacific, Typhoon Melor has been rapidly intensifying and is also a dangerous category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Located 300 nautical miles east-northeast of Guam with winds of 133 mph, Melor will pass through the Northern Marianas Islands north of Saipan in approximately 24 hours. The Northern Marianas Islands, with a population of approximately 80,300 is under a Typhoon Warning.

“As with Parma for the Philippines, Melor may have devastating effects for the Northern Marianas Islands including Saipan,” says Swinden. “However unlike Parma weakening over Luzon, Melor will just bowl right on through the island chain while continuing to intensify into a Super Typhoon.”

After the Marianas for the next 72 hours, Typhoon Melor will continue to track west-northwestward while intensifying into a Super Typhoon. After 72 hours, Melor will curve to the north heading for southern Japan with computer models forecasting that it will retain much of its intensity with possibly making landfall or coming close to Japan next week. Thus interests in Japan should monitor the progress of this storm.

“But keep in mind that next week is a long ways off in terms of the life of a tropical cyclone and anything could happen,” says Swinden whose company advises corporations and travelers on severe weather events. “We are advising our clients along the Pacific rim to monitor this storm and be prepared to take action if necessary. We are in a ‘wait and see’ scenario with Typhoon Melor as to what it will do in the long term.”

Severe Weather Advisories is a subscription based service provided by the Swinden Group to corporations and business travelers so that they are prepared for severe weather that may negatively impact business and travel.

The Swinden Group provides companies and organizations security, investigations, and risk management services worldwide.

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Contact:
Matthew Swinden
The Swinden Group, LLC
Phone: 303-406-3622
Web: www.TheSwindenGroup.com
Email: matt@TheSwidnenGroup.com