‘Domeng’ may intensify into severe tropical storm, to usher in rainy season in PH—Pagasa
TROPICAL depression “Domeng” may intensify into a severe tropical storm and may trigger the start of the rainy season in the country, the state-run weather bureau said.
“Anytime this week, we will declare the start of rainy season,” said Landrico Dalida, deputy administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
“This is the first tropical cyclone during this period that triggers the southwest monsoon, a criterion to declare the start of rainy season. We are also expecting one or two cyclones this month,” Dalida added.
Pagasa said in a briefing on Tuesday afternoon that Domeng was 690 kilometers (km) east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar as of 3 p.m.
It is moving north-northwest at 14 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum winds of 45 kph and gustiness of up to 60 kph.
Domeng is unlikely to make landfall in the country, but may intensify into a severe tropical storm with 87 to 110 kph within the week, weather specialist Nikos Penaranda said.
It may also trigger the southwest monsoon, which could bring occasional moderate to heavy rains over Western Luzon and Western Visayas between Thursday and Sunday.
It will also bring moderate to occasional heavy rains and thunderstorms over Eastern and Central Visayas, Caraga and Davao regions.
Domeng is expected to be 745 km east of Catarman on Wednesday morning and leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday or Monday morning.
Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon can also expect occasional moderate to heavy rainfall within the week due to the weather system.
Meanwhile, another LPA, which just entered PAR was 1,193 km east of Luzon. It was forecast to dissipate within 24 hours, Penaranda added. GLEE JALEA
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