No active low pressure area (LPA) and typhoon were expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility, according to the Dec. 12, 4 p.m. forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, but a YouTube video rehashed past weather reports to make it look like there would be.
The video posted on Dec. 12 by YouTube channel BALITA NGAYON misappropriated, among others, the Dec. 6 4 a.m. forecast of weather specialist Aldczar D. Aurelio and passed it off as the “December 12, 2023 latest weather update” on what it claimed was an impending LPA and typhoon.
Aurelio’s Dec. 6 report is found on the DOST-PAGASA Weather Report YouTube channel, a reverse image search shows.
PAGASA in its Dec. 12 forecast also didn’t mention that an LPA or typhoon has formed near the country but said localized thunderstorms may be expected.
The title of BALITA NGAYON’s misleading video, however, states:
“HALA KA" BAGYO AT LINDOL NA MALAKAS❗WAG NA SANA MAULIT SA LUZON❗BAGONG BAGYO LPA PAPARATING (“Oh no” Typhoon and strong earthquake❗Hopefully they don’t hit Luzon again❗New typhoon LPA is coming)❗
The thumbnail includes a warning “Maghanda bagyong paparating sa Pilipinas malakas” (Be ready a typhoon approaching the Philippines is strong) on top and a satellite radar image of a tropical cyclone typically presented in weather reports.
Starting at 00:21 mark, the video said:
May binabantayan po tayong active na LPA dito sa may bandang silangang Mindanao halos katabi po nito ang typhoon na binabantayan natin (We are monitoring an active LPA around east of Mindanao, almost beside a typhoon we are tracking).
At 00:53, the video displayed a satellite radar photo of what looked like an LPA inside PAR which reverse image search revealed as an intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) or an extension of LPA reported on Nov. 17. The ITCZ brought moderate to heavy rain in Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Davao Region.
Another satellite radar image was shown at 3:01, but it was typhoon”Chedeng” (Guchol) being monitored on June 9. The typhoon didn’t make a landfall but caused moderate to rough waters in the seaboards of extreme Northern Luzon.
As of writing, the video has garnered 2,212 views and 74 likes. BALITA NGAYON was created on Oct. 7, 2020 and has over 38,000 subscribers to date. Most of its video contents were weather reports almost following the same format. (ER)