Severe Tropical Storm ‘In-fa’ May Enter PHL Next Week — PAGASA

The severe tropical storm with international name “In-Fa” has high chance to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by next week.

According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Shelley Ignacio, as of 2 a.m. Friday In-Fa is still outside the PAR — some 2,620 east of Mindanao — packed with maximum sustained winds of maximum sustained winds of 105 kilometers per hour (kph) and its gustiness of up to 135 kph and continues to move west northwest at 20 kph.

Ignacio said that if it maintains its speed and movement In-Fa will move closer to the PAR by Sunday or Monday.

She added once it enters PAR it will be named “Marilyn”, the 13th tropical cyclone to affect the country this year.

Ignacio said In-Fa though has a slim chance to make a landfall and is expected to change its direction from west northwest to east northeast due to presence of ridge high pressure area (HPA).

Once inside the country In-Fa will bring rains over the eastern section of the country due to its extended cloudiness.

Ignacio said the storm is still too far to affect the country.

Meanwhile, the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) remains the prevailing weather system that is currently affecting Mindanao.

Cloudy skies with rains are expected over the parts of Eastern Visayas and Mindanao until weekend due to the presence of ITCZ.

Ignacio said the ITCZ affecting Mindanao is the thick clouds coming from the south of Asia and considered a breeding ground for low-pressure areas (LPAs) or potential cyclones.

She said cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will prevail over Eastern Visayas and Mindanao.

She added fair weather continues in the rest of country including Metro Manila except for isolated thunderstorms.

In its advisory, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over extreme Northern Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast with slight to moderate seas.

The state weather bureau has not issued a gale warning as fisherfolk are safe to venture into the sea. (PNA) JBP/CLTC