Pagasa spots tropical cyclone

MANILA, Philippines - A tropical cyclone is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) this week that may bring rains over parts of Luzon, the weather bureau reported yesterday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said a low-pressure area off the Pacific Ocean has a big chance of intensifying into a cyclone before it enters the eastern border of PAR on Wednesday.

PAGASA weather forecaster Buddy Javier said based on latest forecast, the weather disturbance would likely pass near Northern Luzon and bring moderate to heavy rains and rough seas over the region.

Javier, however, could not say yet if the disturbance would make landfall as it was still far from the country.

Should it intensify into a cyclone and enter PAR, the disturbance would be locally named Lando.

Meanwhile, Javier warned the public against rough to very rough seas over areas in extreme Northern Luzon due to the surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan.

He said waves as high as 3.4 to 4.5 meters are expected in Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan Group of Islands, and the northern coasts of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte.

Javier said cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms would prevail over Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands until today due to the tail end of a cold front.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms would be experienced over Metro Manila and the rest of the country, he said.