Pagasa expects 3-4 tropical cyclones this month

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) is expecting three to four tropical cyclones to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this month.

However, Pagasa said it remains unknown how many of these cyclones will actually hit the Philippines. Tropical cyclone is a term used to cover four weather disturbances: tropical depressions, tropical storms, typhoons and super-typhoons.

Pagasa also forecast that parts of the country will experience incessant rainfall brought by the southwest monsoon, locally known as hanging habagat.

According to Pagasa, "expected ranges of temperature for the month of July are 16 to 23 degrees Celsius for the mountainous areas of Luzon; 24 to 34 degrees for the rest of Luzon; 24 to 32 degrees for the Visayas; 19 to 29 degrees for the mountainous areas of Mindanao and 23 to 32 degrees for the rest of Mindanao."

This was Pagasa’s forecast as typhoon "Ester" intensified slightly by 15 kilometers per hour on its way to southern Japan.

Pagasa said Ester was spotted 860 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan province with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph.

According to the Pagasa forecast, the typhoon will reach an area some 660 km east of Basco, Batanes by tomorrow morning. — Sheila Crisostomo