PAGASA: 'Katring' veering away from RP

Tropical Storm Katring may miss making landfall over Northern Luzon as it continued to move north northwest Monday, state weather forecasters said. But Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Elvie Enriquez said rains are still expected over parts of the country, including Metro Manila. "Sa totoo, palayo (si ‘Katring’) dahilan sa patuloy siyang kumikilos north northwest. Ibig sabihin, palihis sa atin, paakyat talaga (It appears ‘Katring’ is moving away from Philippine territory as it is moving north-northeast. It is effectively moving away from Philippine territory)," Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio.

As of 4 a.m. Monday, PAGASA said Katring was estimated at 810 km east of Northern Luzon with maximum winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It said Katring is forecast to move north northwest at 13 kph. Enriquez said Katring is not likely to make landfall if it continues on its present course. "Sa kanyang kinikilos ngayon napakaliit ng posibilidad siya ay tatama sa ating bansa. Wala pa siyang epekto sa kasalukuyan sa anumang bahagi ng ating bansa (Based on its movements, there is very little chance it will make landfall. And it has virtually no effect on any part of the country)," she said. But Enriquez said Metro Manila and other key cities in the country are likely to experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. "Hindi ito epekto ng bagyo (This will not be an effect of the storm)," she said. Just last week, Typhoon Juan slammed into Northern and Central Luzon, leaving 31 people dead. Meanwhile, PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin indicated Central and Southern Luzon and Visayas will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of Luzon and Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, it added. — RSJ, GMANews.TV