Another Tropical Cyclone Expected to Enter PAR on Wednesday

A new tropical cyclone is expected to hit the country on Wednesday, state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Lorie Dela Cruz said the low pressure area in the Pacific, to be named “Onyok” once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), has intensified into tropical depression and was located at 1,425 km east southeast of Mindanao.

Dela Cruz said the tropical depression, which has a high chance of making landfall, is expected to enter by Wednesday afternoon or evening. It is the 15th tropical cyclone to affect the country this year.

“Yung track nung bagyong paparating, track din ni ‘Nona’ pero pababa at may chance din lumakas dahil nasa dagat pa [Its track is the same as ‘Nona’s track but it moves downwards. It could still gain strength because it is still over the waters],” she explained.

Dela Cruz said most parts of the country will continue to experience rains with gusty winds on Wednesday due to the presence of typhoon “Nona” which has slightly gained strength as it moves slowly.

Dela Cruz said that as of 4 a.m., the eye of typhoon “Nona” is located 125 km west northwest of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 9 kph.

PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio explained the slow movement of the typhoon is due to the interaction in landmass when it made five consecutive landfall.

With maintained speed and movement, “Nona” is expected to exit PAR on Friday.

Meanwhile, public storm warning signal (PSWS) no. 3 (121-170 kph expected in 18 hours) is raised over the provinces of Northern Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island.

Public storm warning signal no. 2 (61-120 kph expected in 24 hours) s raised in the provinces of Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, Northern Oriental Mindoro and the rest of Occidental Mindoro.

Signal no. 1 (30-60 kph expected in 36 hrs) is hoisted in Metro Manila, as well in the provinces of Pampanga, Southern Zambales, Bulacan, Laguna, Calamian group of Islands and the rest of Oriental Mindoro in Luzon; and Antique in Visayas.

Storm signals elsewhere have been lifted.

The estimated rainfall amount is from heavy to at times intense within the 250 km diameter of the typhoon.

Flashfloods and landslides are expected over the provinces of Mindoro, Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan and Metro Manila.

The state-run weather bureau also issued a gale warning due to the effects of “Nona” as the sea condition would be rough to very rough due to strong to gale force winds is expected to affect the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon.

“Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned.

For Wednesday forecast, stormy weather will be experienced over the provinces of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Northern Oriental Mindoro, Bataan, Batangas and Cavite with rough to very rough seas.

Rains with gusty winds is expected over Metro Manila, Pampanga, Southern Zambales, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal, Calamian group of islands and the the rest of Oriental Mindoro.

Cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Northern Luzon light to moderate rains will be experienced over the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.

It added moderate to strong winds blowing from the east to northeast will prevail over the rest of Luzon and coming from the southwest to southeast over Visayas. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest with slight to moderate. (PNA) JMC/CLTC