PAGASA sees 0-1 cyclone this month

THE country may experience zero to one tropical cyclone this month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said the low pressure that the agency is monitoring over the past days is not expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone.

“We are expecting there will be zero to one (tropical cyclone) for this month,” said Estareja.

“If there will be a tropical cyclone inside our PAR (Philippine Area of Responsibility), we will name it Aghon,” he also said.

The LPA being monitored by PAGASA was some 200 km southwest of General Santos City as of yesterday afternoon, said Estareja.

“Based on our assessment, there is small chance the low pressure area will intensify into a tropical cyclone,” he said, adding the LPA may dissipate in the coming days.

He also said, “We are not discounting the possibility that it will enter our area of responsibility though it will exit after a few hours.”

PAGASA said Mindanao, Central Visayas, Negros Occidental, and Southern Leyte will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to through of the LPA.

Aurora, Quezon, and the Bicol region will have cloudy skies with light rains due to the northeast monsoon.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains also due to the northeast monsoon.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the trough of the LPA and localized thunderstorms.