3 cyclones to hit Phl this month

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) advised the public yesterday to brace for two to three tropical cyclones this month.

PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando and PAGASA weather division chief Robert Sawi said the cyclones that enter the country during the month of October usually make landfall over Northern and Central Luzon and northern portion of Visayas.

Sawi said the southwest monsoon will continue to prevail over the country until mid-October, bringing rains over Luzon particularly the western section.

“We will experience transition (of wind from southwest monsoon to northeast monsoon) in the last week of October. The northeast monsoon or amihan will start later this month until February 2013,” Sawi said.

The northeast monsoon brings dry and cool weather to the country.

Meanwhile, Sawi said the weather bureau was monitoring a potential cyclone west of the country as of yesterday noon.

However, he said the weather system has a slim chance of developing into a cyclone within the next 24 hours.

Servando said occasional rains will prevail over Metro Manila until Thursday due to a low-pressure area west of Luzon.

PAGASA said Metro Manila, the regions of Central Luzon, Ilocos and Cordillera will have cloudy skies with occasional light to moderate rains and thunderstorms in the next 24 hours.

The rest of the country will be partly cloudy with brief rain showers or thunderstorms, it said.

PAGASA said the coastal waters along Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Cagayan, Abra, Kalinga and Isabela will be moderate to rough.