Super typhoon Nida likely to spare RP

Super typhoon "Nida," which had threatened to enter the Philippine territory earlier this week, changed course and is likely to spare the country, international weather agencies said. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center said "Nida" is tracking generally northward to northeastward, and may accelerate northeastward. For its part, the Japan Meterological Agency said in its 9:45 p.m. update Friday that "Nida" was moving north-northeast slowly. Had it entered Philippine territory, "Nida" would have been locally code-named "Vinta," the 22nd cyclone in the country this year. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to an inter-tropical convergence zone. Pagasa's 5 a.m. bulletin Saturday said a northeast monsoon is affecting northern and eastern Luzon, which will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered light rains. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. "Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon with moderate to rough seas. Elsewhere, light to moderate northeasterly to northwesterly winds will prevail and the coastal waters along these areas will be slight to moderate," it said. It added strong to gale force winds will affect seaboards of Northern and Eastern Luzon. Pagasa reminded fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into sea, and larger sea vessels to be on alert against big waves. - JHU, GMANews.TV