Pagasa monitoring new storm

MANILA, Philippines - The state weather bureau is keeping an eye on a tropical storm off the Pacific Ocean that may enter the Philippine area of responsibility early next week.

Rene Paciente and Robert Sawi, senior weather forecasters of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the storm with international name Bavi is likely to enter the country on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Paciente said Bavi could gather strength before entering the Philippine area of responsibility.

However, he could not say yesterday if the cyclone would hit land and what areas would be affected, as it was still too far from the country.

As of 8 a.m. yesterday, the center of the cyclone was spotted 4,490 kilometers east of Davao City, he said.

For his part, Sawi said the cyclone is likely to weaken gradually upon entering the Philippine area of responsibility.

Bavi will be locally named Betty once it enters the Philippines. It will be the second tropical cyclone to affect the country this year.

The weather bureau on Wednesday warned that the Philippines is likely to be hit by stronger typhoons this year due to an El Niño phenomenon.

“El Niño may cause the behavior of tropical cyclones to become erratic, affecting (their) tracks and intensity,” PAGASA said in an advisory.