PAGASA clarifies: Weather disturbance Unlikely

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) clarifies that no typhoon or significant weather disturbance will be expected anywhere in the Philippines in the following weeks.

Earlier, the weather bureau warned the other day that a formation of a tropical cyclone is likely to hit the same areas affected by super typhoon Pablo in the Visayas and Mindanao on Christmas Day.

Alfredo Quiblat, officer-in-charge of Cebu PAGASA Complex Station, said that the low pressure area (LPA) has a distance of 2,000 kilometers outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

“Layo pa gyud kaayo ni siya and adunay indication nga ni-hinayhinay kini but kung naa pa gani ni sa tubig, adunay possibility nga mokusog. Pero slim kaayo ang possibility nga mamahimo ning typhoon,” said Quiblat. (It’s still far from the country and has weakened. There’s a slim chance it will become a typhoon.)

He added that the LPA will still first become an active tropical depression before it will become a typhoon.

Quiblat reiterated that there is nothing to fear because if ever the LPA will enter the country, there is a slim chance for it becoming a super typhoon just like Pablo.

“Kung i-compare sa Pablo, layo ra kaayo gyud kaayo. Aduna tay model kung magpabilin gani siyang LPA, adunay possibility nga mo-enter siya sa PAR by December 23 apan mamahimo pod ni siyang mo-dissipate,” Quiblat. (You can’t compare it’s strength with Pablo, there’s even a chance it would just dissipate.)

He added that Pablo was already very strong even while it was still outside the country, while this one is not.

Pablo was the strongest cyclone to hit the Philippines this year leaving over a thousand dead and thousands of families homeless.

Rainshowers are expected over Eastern Visayas and Mindanao over next few days due to Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) but despite rains, there is no significant weather disturbance expected in Eastern Visayas and Mindanao in the following week.  (FREEMAN)