Tropical storm “Ulysses” (international codename Dolphin) entered the Philippine area of responsibility last night and will bring rains over sections of the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas today, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Weather forecaster Rommel Yutuc said Ulysses was spotted 1,130 kilometers (kms) east of Bicol yesterday, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of 100 kph. It was moving west at 19 kph.
No public storm warning signal has been raised and the public was advised to check weather bulletins.
“We cannot yet say if Ulysses would be maintaining its direction and move west. We are looking at the possibility that it could also move northward… At present, it is still too far to affect any part of the country,” Yutuc said.
Pagasa has been monitoring the storm since Friday, and its speed was maintained at 19 kms, he said.
“But since it is still in the water, it might strengthen. Ulysses could intensify if it merges with the frontal system in the northeasterly windflow that is prevailing over Luzon,” he added.
Yutuc said the storm would be felt in Metro Manila by Tuesday.
This afternoon, it would be at 760 kms east of Virac, Catanduanes and by tomorrow afternoon, it would be closer to the province at 490 kms.
On Tuesday, Ulysses would be at 380 kms east of Catanduanes.
With 17 more days to go before the end of the month, Pagasa could not say if Ulysses would be the last weather disturbance to enter the country this year.