Super typhoon Haiyan hits Category 5, an extremely serious threat to Philippines - The Washington PostSuper typhoon Haiyan hits Category 5, an extremely serious threat to Philippines - The Washington Post                  Sign In Username PostTV Politics Opinions Local Sports National World Business Tech Lifestyle Entertainment Classifieds Jobs Real Estate Events Rentals Cars WP BrandConnect Subscribe Newsletters & Alerts    washingtonpost.com © 1996-2015 The Washington Post  Help and Contact Us Terms of Service Privacy Policy Submissions and Discussion Policy RSS Terms of Service Ad Choices       Sections    The Washington Post    Super typhoon Haiyan hits Category 5, an extremely serious threat to Philippines       Sign In  Username   Subscribe                        Capital Weather Gang Super typhoon Haiyan hits Category 5, an extremely serious threat to Philippines           Share on Facebook  Share on Whatsapp  Share on Twitter  Share on Google Plus  Share via Email  More Options       Share via Email  Share on Twitter  Share on Pinterest  Share on Google Plus  Share on LinkedIn  Share on Tumblr          Resize Text Print Article  Comments             By Jason Samenow November 6, 2013  Follow @capitalweather      Super typhoon Haiyan at 17:30 UTC or 12:30 p.m. EST Wednesday (NOAA)  The western Pacific storm Haiyan has intensified without interruption since Sunday and is now a dangerous Category 5 super typhoon, with maximum sustained winds exceeding 160 mph.  It is on a path due west, and landfall Friday in the central Philippines is inevitable. Haiyan – known as Yolanda in the Philippines – is likely the strongest storm to form on the planet this year. “Based on satellite imagery, [Haiyan's] the strongest storm I’ve seen since Bopha (2012),” says Ryan Maue, a meteorologist with WeatherBell Analytics. Super typhoon Bopha, whose peak winds reached 175 mph, caused hundreds of fatalities on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao in December 2012. Maue says it’s possible Haiyan’s maximum sustained winds have reached 180 mph. “[The] system has developed to almost max intensity for a cyclone,” notes a NOAA bulletin. Officially, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecasts additional strengthening over the next day, but with the storm near its theoretical maximum strength – it’s more likely it has leveled off. As it continues westward over the Philippine Sea, its inner core may re-organize through what’s known as an eyewall replacement cycle, which would briefly weaken the storm. But water temperatures are very warm along Haiyan’s path, so significant weakening is unlikely. SST 29-30°C + deep ocean heat content means #Haiyan will remain Super Typhoon until landfall pic.twitter.com/Ld7XryZEBN — Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) November 6, 2013   At landfall – predicted to occur around 0-6 UTC Friday (Friday morning local time in Manila) – the storm is forecast to have maximum sustained winds around 155 mph – equivalent to a high-end category 4 hurricane.    Forecast track for Haiyan (National Weather Service)  The storm is currently in the vicinity of Yap and Palau, where a 72 mph wind gust was recently recorded. Winds are gusting to 72 mph at the National Weather Service office in Palau due to Super #Typhoon #Haiyan. Forecast: http://t.co/wNdaA3h8b8 — Hurricane Central (@twc_hurricane) November 6, 2013   As we noted Tuesday, Haiyan is likely to impact the vulnerable central Philippines reeling from an earthquake that killed more than 150 people in mid-October and a tropical depression that dumped heavy rain earlier this week. “Rain totals along the path of Haiyan could top 200 mm (8 inches),” writes AccuWeather. “Mudslides are a serious concern in the higher terrain, where localized totals of 250 to 300 mm (10 to 12 inches) are not out of the question.” Haiyan is likely to push a devastating storm surge inland – at least 2 or 3 meters (around 10 feet) – just north of the center – along the eastern coast of southern Luzon and Samar islands. Predicted storm surge height for coastal areas of Ormoc City on 8 November 2013. #YolandaPH pic.twitter.com/cZ5bKGa0NA — Mahar Lagmay (@nababaha) November 6, 2013   Coastal and inland areas also face the likelihood of destructive winds, over 100 mph near the storm center. “The worst of the storm will bypass the capital city of Manila, but damaging winds of 80 to 120 kph (50 to 75 mph) and rainfall of 100 to 200 mm (4 to 8 inches) are still expected,” notes AccuWeather. The Wall Street Journal reports government agencies in the Philippines have been ordered to prepare emergency supplies and equipment ahead of the storm and will consider the need for evacuation procedures. Haiyan is the 11th typhoon to form in the west Pacific in the last seven weeks, during what the UK Met Office calls an “exceptionally active period.” It is the 5th super typhoon to form this year in the western Pacific.    2013 super typhoons (Brian McNoldy)  Wunderground meteorologist Jeff Masters notes Haiyan will be the fourth typhoon and fifth named storm to hit the Philippines in 2013. “The Philippines lie in the most tropical cyclone-prone waters on Earth, and rarely escape a year without experiencing a devastating typhoon,” Masters writes. Related: Extreme weather of 2013, in photos          1 of 33       Full Screen Autoplay  Close                       Skip Ad   ×           Extreme weather      View Photos   Severe, record-breaking weather and fires fueled by dry conditions have ravaged communities this year.    Caption   Severe, record-breaking weather and fires fueled by dry conditions have ravaged communities this year.  Typhoon Haiyan blasts the Philippines Residents of Bayog town in Los Banos, Laguna, south of Manila, walk along the beach amid strong winds from Typhoon Haiyan. The strongest Pacific storm this year — and possibly the most powerful ever to hit land — battered the central Philippines on Friday, forcing more than 700,000 people to flee their homes. At least four people had been reported killed by the storm, but the death toll is expected to be worse.  Charlie Saceda/Reuters  Buy Photo          Wait 1 second to continue.        View Photo Gallery —Severe, record-breaking weather and fires fueled by dry conditions have ravaged communities this year.  Jason is currently the Washington Post’s weather editor. A native Washingtonian, Jason has been a weather enthusiast since age 10.        Share on FacebookShare   Share on TwitterTweet          Comments                   Show Comments      Discussion Policy    Comments       SuperFan Badge SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams. More about badges | Request a badge   Culture Connoisseur Badge Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment. More about badges | Request a badge   Fact Checker Badge Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker. More about badges | Request a badge   Washingtologist Badge Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area. More about badges | Request a badge   Post Writer Badge This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.   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