‘Stronger’ storm threatens Christmas
As Tropical Storm Urduja exits the country this week, a stronger weather disturbance also threatens to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said there is a big chance it will cross central Philippines or the Visayas Region just like Urduja.
The second weather disturbance is seen to enter PAR on Wednesday, December 20, the same day Urduja is expected to exit.
PAGASA-Cebu officer-in-charge Alfredo Quiblat, Jr. said it is difficult to project the exact track of the weather disturbance since it is still outside PAR hovering over the Pacific Ocean.
Once it enters PAR, it will be given the local name “Vinta”, the 22nd tropical cyclone to develop and enter PAR.
Based on satellite images, the looming weather disturbance is bigger in size than Urduja and Quiblat said there is a big possibility it will be stronger. The good news is it will not be as strong as the devastating typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
Yolanda reached the fifth and strongest category of a tropical cyclone but Vinta, Quiblat said, may peak in strength on the third category or as a “severe tropical storm.”
He said that while the weather disturbance is far from land, many things can still happen as regards its strength, movement, and speed.
“Anything is possible. (But) it’s too early to tell whether it will reach landmass. Anything can happen,” he said.
Last night, the developing tropical cyclone – under “tropical depression” category – was estimated 2,135 kilometers east of Mindanao.
“Tropical depression” is the first of the five categories of a tropical cyclone (generic local term) based on its intensity.
The public is advised to monitor PAGASA for the latest updates.