PHL Weather Bureau Expects 8 More Cyclones This Year

Eight more tropical cyclones are expected to enter the Philippines this year, a state weather bureau official said Tuesday.

The first of these eight cyclones may enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) next week, Engr. Oscar Tabada, director of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in Visayas said.

Tabada said that once it enters PAR, it will be named Helen, the eighth tropical cyclone after Ambo, Butchoy, Carina, Dindo, Enteng, Ferdie and Gener.

He said ‘Helen’ will still move toward extreme north Luzon and will cross Taiwan, following the path of ‘Gener’ and the cyclones before it.

As of Sept. 20, Tabada said Typhoon Gener was located somewhere in Japan.

While the previous cyclones have not hit a large part of the country, Tabada warned the next batch may affect the country directly.

“For September, we still have the southwest monsoon (habagat), but as far as we know, there will be a transition from habagat to amihan. The wind will be colder already, since it will come from the northeastern side of the country. So there’s a big possibility that typhoons will hit us,” he said.

“I have a gut feeling that a strong typhoon will hit Cebu. So, let us prepare for it,” Tabada said. (PNA) CVL/EB/EDS