Neneng to affect northern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - The state weather bureau warned residents of extreme Northern Luzon against strong winds from Typhoon Neneng (international name Phanfone), which entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) yesterday.

Robert Sawi and Rene Paciente, senior weather forecasters of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said Batanes and other areas in extreme Northern Luzon may experience winds of 65 kilometers per hour this weekend.

“Rains will not be intense but strong winds may affect extreme Northern Luzon,” Sawi told The STAR.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Neneng was spotted at 1, 330 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph and gustiness of up to 210 kph.

Neneng is the 14th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.

Forecast to move northwest at 20 kph, the typhoon was projected to be at 1,180 km northeast of Itbayat or outside the PAR this morning.

It was not expected to hit the country but it could enhance the northeast monsoon, which will bring rough seas in the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon this weekend.

“Sea travel is risky in the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon,” the weather bureau said.

Meanwhile, Sawi said Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will continue to experience afternoon or evening rain showers and thunderstorms this weekend.

Visayas and Mindanao, on the other hand, will be mostly cloudy with rain showers and thunderstorms associated with the intertropical convergence zone.