Pagasa to voters: Bring umbrellas

MANILA, Philippines – The state weather bureau yesterday advised the voting public to bring along umbrellas for today’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Graciano Yumul, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said rains would still prevail across the country due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).

Yumul said that although tropical storm “Katring” would likely spare the country, it might induce more rains.

He said the ITCZ would bring cloudy skies with light rains in most parts of the country, including Metro Manila.

Yumul said Katring would have no direct effect on the country, but the storm has maintained its wind strength of 65 kilometers per hour and as of 4 p.m. yesterday, was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 980 kms east-southeast of northern Luzon.

Yumul said Katring is not expected to directly hit the country but would likely recurve and move toward Japan.

Katring entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday, a few days after typhoon “Juan” left a trail of destruction in northern Luzon, claiming 26 lives and destroying crops and property estimated at over P7 billion.