PAGASA: ‘Katring’ may enter RP Saturday noon

A tropical depression threatening to become another typhoon “Juan" (Megi) may enter Philippine territory by Saturday noon, state weather forecasters said. But the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the tropical depression may weaken due to a high-pressure area, or miss north Luzon altogether. “Maaaring pumasok ito sa Philippine area of responsibility ngayong tanghali o early this afternoon (We expect it to enter the Philippine area of responsibility at noon or early afternoon)," PAGASA forecaster Manny Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said that as of 5 a.m. Saturday, the depression – to be codenamed "Katring" upon entering Philippine territory – was still 1,360 km east of Northern Luzon. It packed maximum winds of 55 kph and was moving west-northwest at 20 kph. Mendoza said there is a chance the depression may dissolve if it encounters a high-pressure area, but added there is also a chance it will still gain strength as it is still at sea. “Posible ring maging storm and then typhoon (It is still possible it can become a storm and then a typhoon)," he said. On the other hand, PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz said the cyclone’s west-northwest path may take it north of the Philippines and miss Northern Luzon. “If it continues on its west-northwest path, it may miss Northern Luzon. But we are still monitoring it because its path was westward as of Friday. We cannot be sure at this time)," he said in a separate interview on dzBB. Meanwhile, PAGASA said Juan is nearing China, and was estimated at 430 km northwest of Basco, Batanes as of 2 a.m. Saturday. It said Juan packed maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph, and is forecast to move north at 9 kph. “Luzon and Western Visayas and Western Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. Strong winds blowing from the southwest to south will prevail over the northern and western sections of Northern Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be rough. Moderate to strong winds coming from the southwest to south will prevail over the rest of Luzon and from the southwest over the rest of the country with moderate to rough seas. On the other hand, PAGASA said strong to gale force winds are likely to affect the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon. “Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. —LBG, GMANews.TV