New typhoon may enter Phl

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said a new typhoon might enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday.

PAGASA forecaster Chris Perez said the typhoon was expected to arrive on Monday but since “it has almost been stationary,” it might enter the country by Tuesday.

The typhoon, which bears the international name Francisco, will be locally called Urduja.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, the typhoon was still in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 kilometers from the country’s eastern border.

But just like Typhoon Tino previously, the new typhoon will only graze the country and pass near its northern border before proceeding to Japan.

“The new typhoon will not have any direct effect on the Philippines, it will not make any landfall and will only stay here for less than a day,” Perez said.

In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin yesterday, PAGASA said that the northeast monsoon would affect the northern and central parts of Luzon.

Metro Manila and the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains today.

While the rest of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Meanwhile, moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon today and coastal waters will be moderate to rough.