PAGASA: 2-4 tropical cyclones seen in August

MANILA, Philippines — Two to four tropical cyclones may enter the Philippine area of responsibility in August, state weather PAGASA said Monday.

The tropical cyclones that would enter PAR next month will be called “Hanna,” “Ineng,” “Jenny” and “Kabayan.”

In an interview on CNN Philippines in June, state hydrologist Elmer Caringal said the Angat Dam, where low water levels have raised concerns on where Metro Manila will get its water, needs to be hit by three to four tropical cyclones for the water level in the reservoir to return to the normal level. 

He said in Filipino that two storms would only potentially bring the water level back to an "operational" 180 meters. "If we want the normal high of 210 meters in Angat Dam, it will take three to four storms," he said.

Weather specialist Ariel Rojas said these tropical cyclones might hit parts of northern Luzon only.

The country gets an average of 20 tropical cyclones annually.

PAGASA monitoring LPA in West Philippine Sea

Weather forecasters are monitoring a low pressure area that formed over the West Philippine Sea. The weather disturbance was last seen 380 kilometers west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

The LPA is likely to intensify into a tropical depression but it will probably head to Hainan in China or Vietnam.

The weather disturbance, however, is boosting the southwest monsoon or habagat, which is affecting the whole country.

Monsoon rains will prevail over MIMAROPA and the provinces of Cavite, Batangas, Bataan and Zambales.

Meanwhile, residents of Metro Manila, Mindanao, Visayas, Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Bicol region and the rest of Central Luzon and CALABARZON will experience cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Residents of Cagayan Valley will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers. — Gaea Katreena Cabico