Pagasa sees less tropical cyclones this year
BAGUIO CITY – There will be fewer tropical cyclones this year due to a “persisting weak El Niño,” according to state weather forecasters.
El Niño is part of a routine climate pattern that occurs when the sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean rise to above-normal levels for an extended period of time.
Weather specialist Hilario Esperanza said the month of September is forecast to have the most number of cyclones, while June, November and December will have the least this year.
The Philippines is visited by an average of 20 tropical cyclones a year.
Esperanza said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is forecasting that the months of June, November and December will each have one or two tropical cyclones; July, August and October will two or three each and September will have two to four.
PAGASA could not yet determine the strength of these forecasted weather disturbances. It predicted a 70 percent chance that the El Niño would continue from June to August, and a 55 to 60 percent chance from September to November this year.
Four tropical cyclones have hit the country so far since the start of the year, with the latest named Dodong.
New LPA spotted
A new low-pressure area was spotted east of Catanduanes.
At 10 a.m. yesterday, the lowpressure area was estimated based on all available data at 840 kilometers east of Virac.
PAGASA said said the lowpressure area may develop into a tropical depression within 48 hours.
Monsoon rains will be experienced over Ilocos Region, Cagayan, Batanes, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Antique and Aklan due to the southwest monsoon.