3 cyclones coming in July

MANILA, Philippines – Three tropical cyclones are expected to enter the country next month, threatening areas in Northern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday.

Pagasa said July is one of the rainiest months and usually has the most number of typhoons.

Pagasa administrator Prisco Nilo said the cyclones during this month usually reach typhoon intensity.

The weather bureau has warned the public of stronger tropical cyclones and “above normal” rains in July and August as the southwest monsoon season peaks.

“The July-August months are likely characterized by heavy rains, strong winds and thunderstorms associated with the southwest monsoon,” Pagasa senior weather specialist Daisy Ortega said.

Ortega said seven to 10 tropical cyclones are likely to enter the Philippine area of responsibility between July and September, adding that the usual movement of the cyclones during this period is northeast.

Ortega also said there is a possible development of an El Niño phenomenon next month.

“All statistical models predict El Niño Southern Oscillation-neutral conditions will continue for the remainder of 2009 while most of the dynamical models predict the onset of El Niño during July-August-September season,” Ortega said.

El Niño is a weather phenomenon associated with the unusual warming in the Equatorial Pacific which usually brings below -normal rainfall.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) would bring rains over some parts of the country this week.

“Visayas and Mindanao including Palawan will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms,” Pagasa said.

“The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening,” it added.

Last week, tropical storm “Feria” (international name Nangka) battered several areas in Luzon and the Visayas, leaving at least 10 people dead.

Damage to property caused by the storm exceeded P200 million as of Saturday noon, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said.