‘Melor’ won't directly affect RP - Pagasa

Even if it is expected to enter Philippine territory late Monday, typhoon “Melor" (international name) will not directly affect the country, state weather forecasters said Sunday. In a press conference, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather sciences bureau chief Nathaniel Cruz said Melor would not cause anything “abnormal" in the Philippines because of the weak southwest monsoon. “Wala siyang direct effect. Tayo ngayon ay nasa October... magiging mahina na ang southwest monsoon dito sa Luzon at Visayas. We do not have any abnormal situation except itong interaction niya with Pepeng," Cruz said. (Melor will not have a direct effect in our country. The southwest monsoon is usually not that strong in October. We do not have any abnormal situation except its interaction with Pepeng.) Cruz added that when Melor enters the Philippine area of responsibility late Monday afternoon or early evening, it is only expected to “interact" with typhoon “Pepeng," which remained stationary in northwest Luzon as of Sunday afternoon. Melor will be codenamed “Quedan" once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility. As of posting time, Cruz said Melor is packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour and was moving at 24 kph west-northwest, approaching the eastern side of the Philippine territory.

Inevitable floods, landslides Melor's entry and interaction with Pepeng may cause the latter to make a U-turn, according to Cruz. He explained that a high-pressure area is preventing Pepeng from moving toward the South China Sea and finally leaving the country. In the press conference Sunday afternoon, Cruz warned that Pepeng’s prolonged stay might cause flash floods and landslides in the Ilocos region and in other parts of northern Luzon. "It’s very likely if this will continue the next several days, flooding and landslides will be inevitable," he said. But he said that while there is the possibility of two cyclones in Philippine territory at the same time – Pepeng at South China Sea and Melor at the eastern side of Philippine territory – there is little chance of them merging. "Wala tayong nakikitang ganoong scenario (We do not see that kind of scenario)," he said. Where is Pepeng? As of 5 p.m. Sunday, Pepeng is estimated to be 150 km north-northwest of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte. Batanes, northern Cagayan, Babuyan, Calayan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and Apayao are still under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 3 while Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, and the rest of Cagayan are still under Signal No. 2. Under Signal No. 1 are La Union, Benguet, Mt. Province, and northern Isabela. Packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph with gustiness of 150 kph, Pepeng is expected to be 210 kms northwest of Laoag City on Monday afternoon, 230 km north-northwest of Laoag City on Tuesday afternoon, and 240 km west of Laoag City on Wednesday afternoon. - GMANews.TV