'No more tropical cyclone this year'

MANILA, Philippines - After the deadly storm “Sendong,” no other tropical cyclone is expected to affect the Philippines for the rest of the year, although rains may still prevail over most parts of the country on New Year’s Day, the weather bureau said yesterday.

Nathaniel Servando, administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the wind convergence and the northeast monsoon would be the dominant weather systems until the weekend.

“Luzon will experience light rains due to the northeast monsoon while the Visayas and Mindanao will have light to moderate rains due to wind convergence,” Servando said in a text message.

Metro Manila will experience partly cloudy skies with brief light rains, he said.

“There is a very slim chance of tropical cyclone development in the remaining week of 2011,” Servando said.

Meanwhile, a low-pressure area spotted in Cotabato City and the tail-end of a cold front will continue to bring rains over portions of the Visayas and Mindanao.

PAGASA said these two weather systems will bring cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms in the Visayas and Mindanao, becoming widespread rains over Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros, Surigao, Misamis, Davao and Cotabato which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

A total of 19 cyclones entered the country this year.

Tropical storm Sendong (international name Washi) recently battered Northern Mindanao and Central Visayas, killing thousands of people and damaging P1-billion worth of property.