Typhoon-enhanced ‘Habagat’ to Bring Rains Starting Wednesday — PAGASA

Manila (PNA) — Most parts of the country will experience rainy weather starting Wednesday due to southwest monsoon which will be enhanced by typhoon “Goni” (international name) which is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Tuesday, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Robert Badrina said that as of 4 a.m. the eye of typhoon Goni with maximum sustained winds of 170 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 205 kph is located 1,600 km east of Luzon (18.0°N, 137.2°E). It is forecast to move west northwest at 25 kph.

If it maintains its speed and movement, typhoon Goni will enter PAR by 2 p.m. Tuesday and will be locally named “Ineng”, the ninth tropical cyclone to affect the country this year and second for the month of August.

It’s effect will not be felt until Wednesday when the typhoon will enhance the southwest monsoon or “hangin habagat” which will bring rains over Visayas and Mindanao and by Thursday until weekend rains will be experienced in Luzon, including Metro Manila.

He added the typhoon has high chance to make landfall in extreme Northern Luzon or in the provinces of Batanes or in Calayan by Friday because of the presence of high pressure area that blocks the movement of the typhoon.

However, he noted that once the HPA recedes it will not make any landfall as it will follow the track of typhoon Hanna only enhanced the southwest monsoon.

Meanwhile, Badrina said the other typhoon with international name “Atsani” was located approximately 3,800 km east of Luzon has slim chance to enter the country and its track is moving towards Japan.

However, the agency continues to monitor the typhoon and once it enters the PAR it will be locally named “Jenny”, the tenth tropical cyclone to affect the country this year.

For Tuesday forecast, Badrina said except in Visayas and Palawan, most parts of the country will continue to have fair weather with isolated thunderstorms.

He added that Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Visayas and Palawan will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms.

The ITCZ, which is the thick clouds coming from the south of Asia, is considered a breeding ground for low-pressure areas (LPAs) or potential cyclones.

He said the rest of the country, including Metro Manila, will have fair weather or partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms.

He also said the state weather bureau has not issued gale warning on Tuesday as fisherfolks are now safe to venture into the seas.

In its advisory, PAGASA said moderate to occasionally strong winds blowing from the southwest to west will prevail over Mindanao and its coastal waters will be moderate to occasionally rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northwest to west with slight to moderate seas. (PNA) JBP/CLTC