Rainy Holy Week seen
While it has yet to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), the advancing clouds of a storm off the Pacific Ocean will likely
bring rains over Eastern Visayas and Caraga Region in Mindanao in the next few days.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned residents and Holy Week vacationers in Eastern Visayas and Caraga to be on alert for possible flash floods or landslides due to scattered rains and thunderstorms from the trough or extension of a cyclone with international name “Jelawat.”
Jelawat has slightly slowed down at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) but maintained its northwest movement toward the PAR. It was estimated at 1,210 kilometers (km) east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur around midMonday.
It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
PAGASA said the storm could enter the PAR between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, and will be given a local name of “Caloy.”
But it is less likely to make landfall on any part of the country due to its recurving track, or toward Japan.
By Tuesday morning, PAGASA said the storm is expected 945 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains due to the prevailing northeast monsoon or amihan.
The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA said the cyclone will begin to move away from the country by Wednesday and is expected at 1,000 km east of Virac, Catanduanes.
By Thursday morning, it will be about 1,240 km East of Casiguran, Aurora.
Due to the surge of amihan, a gale warning remains hoisted over the northern section of Northern Luzon and eastern sections of Southern Lu- zon and Visayas as it will experience rough to very rough seas.
PAGASA advised fishing boats and other small sea crafts not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.