Not much rain in next 2 days despite 'Ulysses'

Except for eastern Visayas and Bicol, most parts of the country will not experience heavy rains in the next two days, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Pagasa Director Prisco Nilo said that although tropical storm “Ulysses” (international name Dolphin) maintained its strength yesterday, it might curve northward before hitting Luzon.

“We will continue to monitor its movement as it might change (direction),” Nilo told The STAR.

Weather Branch Chief Nathaniel Cruz said with the strong northeasterly wind flow (northeast monsoon), “rains will be limited to Ulysses circulation.”

Nilo said rains would continue to prevail over the eastern sections of Luzon and the Visayas until tomorrow.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, no storm signal warning was raised in any part of the country.

At 2 p.m. yesterday, Ulysses was spotted some 830 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph.

Ulysses is expected to move west at 15 kph.

Ulysses is forecast to be at 570 kms east of Virac, Catanduanes this morning; at 380 kms east of Virac tomorrow morning and at 290 kms northeast of Virac by Wednesday morning.

Cruz said Ulysses is likely to stay inside the Philippine area of responsibility for a week based on model forecasts.

Ulysses is the 21st tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first this month.