2 tropical cyclones likely to enter RP this month

MANILA, Philippines – One to two tropical cyclones are likely to enter the country this month, threatening areas in the Bicol and Visayas regions, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday.

Pagasa Director Prisco Nilo said four more storms are expected to enter the country until December.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) would continue to bring rains over the Bicol region, Visayas and Mindanao.

“Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms,” Pagasa said.

The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening, it added.

Pagasa said moderate to occasionally strong winds blowing from the east will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon, and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to occasionally rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the east and northeast with slight to moderate seas.

Weather forecasters earlier predicted more than 20 tropical cyclones to visit the country this year and so far, 16 cyclones have entered the Philippine area of responsibility.– Helen Flores