Storm 'Jose' may enter country early next week

MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau said Friday that the country's 10th tropical cyclone may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by early next week.

Aldczar Aurelio, state weather forecaster, said Tropical Storm "Halong" may enter the country by Monday or Tuesday.

It is expected to pass by the corner of Northern Luzon and will not directly affect the country.

It will be named "Jose" once it enters the PAR.

As of 4 a.m., the center of tropical storm Halong was located at 1,740 kilometers east of Central Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 100 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest slowly.

Weather bureau PAGASA expects three to four tropical cyclones will hit the country for the month of August.

Meanwhile, Aurelio said the the prevailing southwest monsoon will bring rains during the weekend.

He said areas in Luzon and Western Visayas will experience intermittent to continuous rains.