Tropical cyclone may enter Phl this month – Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday advised residents in Southern Luzon and Visayas to brace for one tropical cyclone this month.

PAGASA weather division chief Robert Sawi said that based on climatological data, zero or one cyclone usually enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) in January. 

“We are likely to experience one tropical cyclone this month based on our data. If ever a cyclone enters PAR, it will either recurve or cross Southern Luzon and Visayas,” Sawi told The STAR.

The first cyclone that will enter the country this year will be named “Agaton.”

With regard to the cyclone’s intensity, Sawi said some cyclones in January reach storm category while some remain as tropical depression. “There is also a probability that the cyclone will dissipate before making landfall due to the cold weather this month.”

Southern Luzon and Visayas were the areas devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda in November last year.

On Jan. 3, 2013, Tropical Storm Auring entered the country, dumping heavy rains over some parts of the country, including Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Sawi said the northeast monsoon would continue to prevail over most parts of Luzon this week, bringing light rains particularly over the eastern section.

The tail-end of a cold front, on the other hand, would bring cloudy skies with rainshowers over Visayas and Mindanao.

He also said that widespread rains would prevail over the eastern section of the Visayas and Mindanao by late Tuesday to Wednesday, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Cooler temperatures will persist over Metro Manila this week “but it will not surpass the lowest recorded this year for NCR.”

Temperatures dipped to 11.8 degrees Celsius in Baguio City and 19.2 degrees Celsius in Quezon City on Jan. 1.

These temperatures are the lowest recorded for the areas since the onset of the northeast monsoon in the country last October.