Quedan intensifies into storm but won’t affect Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Depression Quedan (international name Fitow) intensified into a storm yesterday but it is not expected to directly affect any part of the country, the state weather bureau said.

However, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the inter-tropical convergence zone may bring rain to some parts of the country in the next few days.

PAGASA said the regions of Mimaropa, Bicol, and Caraga, as well as the Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Zamboanga peninsula will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rains or thunderstorms.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Quedan was spotted at 700 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It was forecast to move north-northwest at 13 kph.

The storm is expected to be 1,060 km east of Casiguran, Aurora this morning; 1,020 km east of Tuguegarao City tomorrow morning; and 1,010 km east of Basco, Batanes by Friday morning.

Quedan is the 17th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.

PAGASA said it has not monitored any other weather disturbance in or near the Philippine area of responsibility as of yesterday afternoon.