Maysak to enter Phl Wednesday

MANILA, Philippines - A typhoon with international name Maysak is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday and bring rains over Northern Luzon by weekend, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

Aldczar Aurelio, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the typhoon was 2,810 kilometers east of Mindanao as of 10 a.m. yesterday.

Maysak packed winds of 130 kilometers per hour near center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It was forecast to move west at 20 kph.

“This typhoon is still too far to affect any part of the country,” the weather bureau said in an advisory.

The typhoon would be locally named Chedeng once inside the PAR.

Aurelio said Maysak could still gain more strength before it enters the country.

“If it maintains its speed and course it is likely to cross or pass near Northern Luzon by Friday or Saturday,” Aurelio said in a phone interview.

“If it maintains its strength (typhoon intensity) we expect it to bring strong winds and heavy rains over Northern Luzon,” he said.

Aurelio could not say yet the areas that would likely be hit by the typhoon “as it still too far from the country.”

He said the northeast monsoon that could cause the weakening of the typhoon has already dissipated.

Aurelio said zero or one cyclone usually enters the Philippines in April.

Aurelio said the whole country could expect generally good weather until Maundy Thursday aside from isolated thunderstorms.

In Metro Manila, temperature will range from 24 to 33 degrees Celsius this week, he said.

Aurelio said the weather bureau might officially announce the start of the dry or summer season in areas under Type 1 climate this week.

Areas under the Type 1 climate include the National Capital Region, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, Zambales, Tarlac, Palawan, Mindoro, Cavite and Batangas.

The agency declares the onset of summer season once the easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean become the dominant weather system in the country.