Pagasa sees 13-16 storms this year

(UPDATE) THIRTEEN to 16 storms would likely enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) during the last quarter of the year due to the southwest monsoon and the onset of La Niña, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Ana Liza Solis, climate monitoring and prediction section chief of Pagasa, said these factors could also result in the formation of destructive typhoons during the last months of the year.

Solis added that although the El Niño phenomenon was weakening, the onset of the rainy season could be delayed.

«The rainy season could start from June 1 up to its second week, but there is still a possibility that its formal onset could be beyond June 15,» she said in a TV interview.

«But as we can see, we still have to experience the first typhoon of the year that might take place within the month and would be named Aghon, once it enters PAR,» Solis added.

She said that based on Pagasa data, a high volume of rainfall could be expected in the eastern and southern parts of the country, particularly Mindanao, by October because of La Niña.

Solis said Pagasa has been in close coordination with the other government agencies in identifying low-lying areas that are prone to flooding during typhoons.

«On our end, we make sure that we have fully established our early warning systems to alert the concerned agencies and the public as well during typhoons and flooding,» she said.