TBC News

Tag: weather

  • Meralco ready to respond as ‘Nika’ draws near

    Meralco ready to respond as ‘Nika’ draws near

    The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has assured its customers that its personnel are ready to respond to electricity service concerns that may arise due to Typhoon Nika (international name: Toraji).

    Meralco is closely monitoring the weather situation as parts of its franchise area have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1.

    “Meralco’s crews and personnel are on standby 24/7, ready to respond to any possible electricity service concern as we continue to monitor the movements of the typhoon,” Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said.

    Zaldarriaga also reiterated Meralco’s call to the public to observe the following electrical safety measures especially when there is flooding:

    • Ensure that the main electrical power switch or circuit breaker is off. Be sure to be dry when being in contact with any electrical facility.
    • Unplug appliances from wall sockets. Turn off permanently connected equipment and unscrew all light bulbs if possible.
    • Remove mud and dirt from service equipment or main circuit breaker/fuse and its enclosure using rubber gloves and rubber-soled shoes.
    • Make sure that all electrical wires, connectors, and other wiring devices are completely dry.
    • When all electrical wires and accessories have dried and are clean, the wiring system of all appliances must be checked by a licensed electrician. Do not turn on flood-damaged electrical appliances.

    Zaldarriaga encouraged the public to keep all communication channels open and ready, and to charge mobile phones, laptops, radios, and other communication devices. Customers should tune in to public service radio stations in case of power interruptions.

    To report power outages and other concerns, customers may reach Meralco through its official social media pages on Facebook (www.facebook.com/meralco) and Twitter (@meralco). They may also text their concerns to 0920-9716211 and 0917-5516211 or contact the Meralco Hotline at 16211 and 8631-1111

  • Alibaba DAMO Academy unveils “Baguan”

    Alibaba DAMO Academy unveils “Baguan”

    Alibaba DAMO Academy, the research and development arm of Alibaba Group, recently announced the official launch of “Baguan” weather forecasting model.

    Named after the Chinese concept of “observing from different perspectives,” Baguan harnesses cutting-edge AI to revolutionize weather prediction capabilities.

    Baguan offers unprecedented accuracy in weather forecasts, ranging from one hour to ten days ahead. The machine-learning model stands out with its high spatial resolution, delivering detailed meteorological predictions down to a 1 x 1 kilometer grid, updated hourly.

    These capabilities make Baguan an essential tool for applications in climate science, electricity load forecast, renewable energy forecast and natural disaster prevention. 

    “Baguan represents a significant advancement in our dedication to harnessing technology for the greater good,” said Wotao Yin,Director of Decision Intelligence Lab at Alibaba DAMO Academy. “Its sophisticated technology not only helps elevate climate science but also benefits sustainable practices across diverse sectors such as renewable energy and agriculture.”

    The technical backbone of Baguan is its innovative use of the Siamese Masked Autoencoders (SiamMAE) structure and a robust pre-training methodology. These innovations empower the model to uncover intricate patterns gleaned from complex dynamic atmospheric data.

    Furthermore, through an autoregressive pre-training approach, Baguan is able to make precise predictions across various spatio-temporal scales, from one hour to 10 days in advance.

    Baguan leverages ERA5, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) atmospheric reanalysis of the global weather from 1979 to present, to construct the foundational model for weather forecasting.

    Baguan is further refined with key regional meteorological indicators such as regional temperature, irradiance, and wind speed. This meticulous global-regional modeling approach not only boosts Baguan’s forecasting accuracy down to regional level but also tailors its insights to specific local conditions.

    “We have years of research experience in mathematical modeling, time-series forecasting, and explainable AI, which helps us in building a high-precision regional weather forecast model,” said Yin. “We will continue to enhance performance for key weather indicators such as cloud cover, extreme wind speed and precipitation, develop new technology for different climate scenario analysis, and support more applications such as civil aviation meteorological warnings, agricultural production, and sporting events preparations.”

    With the surging global demand for renewable energy, Baguan’s precise weather predictions have become vitally important. The model significantly enhances the reliability of renewable energy forecasts, facilitating more stable power management and supporting the expansion of green energy consumption. 

    Baguan’s capability in weather forecasting has already been used in the power and energy sectors in China, supporting critical applications such as electricity load forecasting and renewable energy forecasting.

  • Hurricane Milton Wreaks Havoc: Florida Stadium Left Exposed

    Hurricane Milton Wreaks Havoc: Florida Stadium Left Exposed

    Hurricane Milton unleashed its fury on Florida, tearing the roof off Tropicana Field early Thursday morning.

    The storm made landfall as a formidable Category 3 hurricane, with winds exceeding 120 mph.

    A local resident captured video footage of the stadium’s fiberglass dome being shredded by the powerful winds.

    Photos revealed the once-protected venue now laid bare, with metal rafters exposed to the elements.

    Initially, local authorities prepared Tropicana Field as a shelter for first responders, but conditions forced a swift relocation.

    Drone footage displayed debris littering the field, remnants of the storm’s relentless assault.

    Milton’s destructive path extended across central Florida, claiming at least four lives and leaving millions without power.

    The storm also spawned multiple tornadoes, exacerbating the devastation throughout the region.

    Many communities are still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which struck just weeks prior.

    Experts predict insured losses from Milton could soar to $100 billion, posing significant challenges for the insurance industry.

    As recovery efforts begin, Florida faces a daunting task in restoring normalcy amid ongoing weather threats.

    This unprecedented sequence of storms raises urgent questions about climate resilience and disaster preparedness in vulnerable areas.