PAGASA Says Nearing LPA Won’t Become Super Typhoon

Weather forecasters assured Mindanao residents on Friday that the approaching potential cyclone from the east is not likely to become a super typhoon like Yolanda (Haiyan), which devastated Visayas and parts of Luzon in November last year. But forecaster said it could become a Tropical Depression.

PAGASA’s weather update said that as of 4 am, the LPA was estimated at 1,460 km east of Southern Mindanao, even as the northeast monsoon is affecting Luzon.

PAGASA’s Fernando Cada said that while their models show the potential cyclone could become a tropical depression, it cannot intensify due to the northeast monsoon’s winds.

Gma News Online reported Cada saying “Halos kasalubong nito ang malamig na hanging amihan. Hindi ito favorable sa bagyo, ang gusto ng bagyo warm (kaya) ang nagsasabing magiging Yolanda ito, walang katotohanan.”

Cada reportedly said that as of 4 a.m., the LPA was near the boundary of the Philippine area of responsibility and may enter the PAR within Friday citing forecast models showing that the LPA may become a tropical depression. Weather authorities said once it does, it will be locally codenamed ‘Agaton’, the first typhoon to enter the country this year.

The weather agency said “Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains”. It added moderate to strong winds from the northeast will prevail over northern Luzon and the eastern sections of Luzon and of Visayas and that the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

PAGASA said elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast with slight to moderate seas.

Source: GMA News Online, PAGASA

Image Credit: www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph