Tropical Storm 'Helen' enters but won't affect PH, monsoon rains will — Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — As Tropical Depression «Gener» exited, a new storm named «Helen» entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the state-run weather agency said on Wednesday.

Helen, the eighth weather disturbance to hit the country this year, was Tropical Cyclone «Punsalan» outside of the Philippines, which the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has been closely monitoring until it entered the PAR late Tuesday night.

Estimated some 1,150 kilometers east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, the tropical storm was moving west-northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 85kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105kph.

Likely to remain far from the Philippine landmass, Helen will not directly affect any part of the country throughout the forecast period, Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

Forecast to remain as a tropical storm, Helen was expected to weaken and may exit PAR either Wednesday afternoon or evening, the state weather bureau said.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said it was the enhanced southwest monsoon or «habagat» that was affecting many areas in the country, including Metro Manila and adjoining provinces.

This weather system will bring monsoon, occasional, scattered and isolated rains and thunderstorms in different parts of the country over the next 24 hours, it added.