World won't end today, but strong storm coming

Manila, Philippines - The world will not end today, but a strong storm could hit the Philippines next week, an official of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said yesterday.

Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said a tropical depression off Yap Islands in Guam is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility on Tuesday.

Yumul said forecasters expect the weather disturbance to intensify further before it enters the country.

It will be given the local name “Chedeng” once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility, he said.

Yumul said that based on latest forecasts of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the weather disturbance is expected to make landfall over Isabela-Cagayan area on Friday.

Yumul dismissed the doomsday scenario peddled by a US-based religious group, saying that good weather condition will prevail over the country today.

He said no extreme weather events will bring floods in the country today based on their latest forecast.

However, light rains are expected in the afternoon or early evening due to warm weather.

US-based Christian group Family Radio Worldwide claimed that May 21, 2011, is Judgment Day.

The group predicted that great floods and earthquakes will shake the earth at 6 p.m. today.

According to reports, the date was calculated by the group’s leader Harold Camping based on his interpretation of the Bible.

“The doomsday scenario has no scientific basis,” Yumul told The STAR.

“Nobody can tell that the world will end on that date,” he said.

However, he said the public should always be prepared, especially for natural disasters.

Meanwhile, the official said the entry of the tropical cyclone in the country next week could trigger the onset of the rainy season in the country.

He said the rainy season associated with the southwest monsoon is expected to start between May 26 and June 4.