Tropical cyclone to enter this week

MANILA, Philippines - A tropical cyclone is expected to enter the Philippines tomorrow and it is likely to bring rains in some parts of the country this Holy Week, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the weather disturbance would start dumping rains over the Bicol region as well as over the eastern sections of the Visayas and Mindanao by Saturday.

PAGASA senior weather forecaster Rene Paciente said the disturbance, which remained a low-pressure area as of yesterday afternoon, was spotted east of Southern Mindanao.

It will be named Crising once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility as a tropical cyclone.

Paciente said the looming cyclone could also bring rains in other parts of Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, by Monday.

The prevalence of a tropical cyclone during the dry season is not unusual, as PAGASA data show zero or one tropical cyclone normally enters the country in April.

The weather bureau declared the start of the dry or summer season last April 5.

The ridge of high-pressure area and the easterlies will continue to prevail over the country until tomorrow, bringing warm and dry weather conditions.