MANILA, Philippines - State weathermen said yesterday tropical storm “Bopha” continued to gather strength while moving westward toward the eastern section of the Philippines.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather forecaster Aldzar Aurelio said the storm was still forecast to enter the country tomorrow or Monday.
Aurelio said beginning tomorrow eastern Mindanao, including the Agusan, Surigao and Davao provinces, will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains.
“The storm is still far. Let us prepare for its effects while we still have plenty of time,” he said in an interview with radio station dzBB.
Aurelio said Bopha was moving westward at 85 kilometers per hour.
The weather disturbance will be codenamed “Pablo” once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility.
Aurelio said residents of Metro Manila will continue to experience good weather conditions this weekend aside from partly cloudy skies with brief rain showers or thunderstorms, mostly in the afternoon or evening.
On Thursday, the weather agency recorded the coldest temperature in the country’s capital at 19.7 degrees Celsius since the onset of the northeast monsoon.
Aurelio said based on historical records of PAGASA at least one tropical cyclone usually enters the Philippines in December.
A total of 15 cyclones have entered the country so far this year.