PAGASA sees 9 more typhoons this year

MANILA, Philippines — The public should be ready for five to nine tropical cyclones for the remainder of the year, an official of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said yesterday.

Speaking at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, PAGASA deputy administrator Marcelino Villafuerte II said they expect two to four storms to hit the country in October, two to three in November and one to two in December.

“So, we’re expecting five to nine more tropical cyclones before the end of this year,” Villafuerte said.

Fifteen storms have so far hit the country, including Severe Tropical Storm Opong which left a wide path of devastation in Masbate, Mindoro and other parts of the country.

“On the average, our country experiences 19 to 20 tropical cyclones. If we are to add the five up to nine (tropical cyclones), we would be at the average,” Villafuerte said.

Based on their previous records, he said areas in the Visayas and Mindanao are the ones usually hit by storms during the last quarter of the year.