Storm to enter Phl tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines - A tropical storm with international name Neoguri is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this weekend.

The state weather bureau said the storm, which was hovering over the Pacific Ocean, would not hit any part of the country. But it could intensify the southwest monsoon, bringing rains over most parts of Luzon, the Visayas and Zamboanga next week.

Glaiza Escullar, forecaster at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), yesterday said portions of the storm’s circulation may move over the northeastern coastlines of the country before heading to Japan.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, PAGASA spotted the center of the storm at 1,540 kilometers east of the Visayas, packing winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 100 kph.

The storm, which will be locally named Florita once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility, was forecast to move northwest at 20 kph.

Meanwhile, Escullar said the low-pressure area off northern Luzon will continue to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms in most parts of Luzon within the next 24 hours.

The low-pressure area was spotted at 225 km east of Aparri, Cagayan as of 4 p.m. yesterday. PAGASA said the weather system was not expected to develop into a tropical cyclone.

“Residents in these areas and the local disaster risk reduction management councils concerned are advised to take all the necessary precautionary measures against possible flashfloods and landslides,” PAGASA said.

The regions of Ilocos and Cordillera will have moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and the Visayas will be cloudy with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

Mindanao will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA expects two to three cyclones to enter the country this month.