'Ulysses' moving away from RP

Rains will continue to prevail over the eastern sections of Luzon and the Visayas in the next days even as tropical storm “Ulysses” (international name: Dolphin) continues to move away from the Philippines, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday.

Typhoon Ulysses weakened into a storm Tuesday night as it moved away from the country, Pagasa director Prisco Nilo said, adding Ulysses is expected to dissipate while inside the Philippine area of responsibility during the weekend.

He however said that despite the termination of Ulysses, rains would still prevail over the eastern parts of Luzon and Visayas due to the prevailing northeast monsoon or hanging amihan.

Nilo said the rest of the country, including Metro Manila, would experience good weather until the weekend.

He also continued to warn the public against big waves in the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon associated with the surge of the northeast monsoon.

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, Ulysses was located some 1,070 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph.

It is forecast to move north-northeast at 17 kph and predicted to be at 1,270 kms east-northeast of Aparri this morning and at 1,640 kms east-northeast of Aparri tomorrow morning.

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

Meanwhile, Pagasa said Metro Manila and Baguio City yesterday experienced the coldest temperature so far this year at 19.5 degrees Celsius and 10.8 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The coldest temperatures were recorded at 5 a.m. yesterday at the Pagasa stations in Baguio City and Quezon City.

Based on Pagasa data, the lowest temperature recorded in Baguio City was at 6.3 degrees Celsius on Jan. 18, 1961.

On the other hand, the lowest temperature in Metro Manila was recorded in 1987 at 15.1 degrees Celsius.