PAGASA: Expect a tropical cyclone or 2 in December

MANILA, Philippines - The number of tropical cyclones that hit the Philippines this year is already above the average but up to two more may lash the country next month, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued this week a climate outlook for December 2013 to April 2014, which said that one or two tropical cyclones may hit the country next month and one more in January.

There is no tropical cyclone existing within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as of Friday, according to PAGASA.

For the next five months, weather systems that are also seen to affect the country are low pressure areas, the Intertropical Convergence Zone, the tail end of a cold front, cold surge, and the northeast monsoon (Amihan).

PAGASA said near to above normal rainfall is also expected in December.

For January next year, generally near to above normal rainfall is forecast in most parts of the country, except Samar provinces, Marinduque and Sulu that will likely to receive below normal rainfall.

According to government data, an average of 19 tropical cyclones entered the PAR yearly from 1948 to 2011.

In 2013, 25 tropical cyclones entered the country including powerful ones such as Typhoons Labuyo, Odette, Santi and the most recent and deadliest, Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Considered as among the strongest typhoons ever recorded, Yolanda slammed into the country earlier this month and devastated several areas in Eastern Visayas with its powerful winds and tsunami-like storm surges.

More than 5,500 fatalities have been reported while over 1,000 others remain missing.

About 10 million people were affected including thousands displaced from their damaged homes and communities.

Rains expected this weekend

In its 24-hour public weather forecast, PAGASA said the tail-end of a cold front is affecting Southern Luzon.

The regions of Mimaropa, Bicol, Calabarzon and Visayas will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

The regions of Ilocos, Cordillera and Cagayan Valley will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains.

Tacloban City, which was ravaged by Yolanda, will have cloudy skies with rainshowers or thunderstorms today and isolated rains are expected until December 3.

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

Metro Manila is also seen to have cloudy skies with rains from December 1 to 3, according to PAGASA.