PAGASA: Incoming cyclone may enter PHL Saturday night

A tropical cyclone that looms as the herald of the rainy season this year may enter the Philippine area of responsibility as early as Saturday night, state weather forecasters said. Science Department Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said the cyclone might move towards Northeast Luzon and directly affect parts of the country starting next week. “(Maaring) papasok ang cyclone mamayang gabi o bukas ng umaga sa Philippine Area of Responsibility... Magta-traverse siya dikit sa northeast Luzon," Yumul said in an interview on dzRH radio. He said the cyclone, which will be codenamed “Chedeng" once in Philippine territory, is still gaining strength and will likely enhance the southwest monsoon. Yumul said the cyclone is likely to affect the western seaboard including Metro Manila, bringing rains to these areas, and it might also usher in the rainy season. According to him, there is “strong possibility" the cyclone could be among the most most powerful cyclones to hit the country this year. Rains not due to cyclone yet But the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the heavy rains that fell on parts of Metro Manila early Saturday were not due to the approaching cyclone. PAGASA forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said the cyclone is still too far to affect any part of the Philippines. “Ang naranasang pag-ulan ay dulot ng maghapong mainit na panahon kahapon na nakaipon ng water vapor," Aurelio said in an interview on dzBB radio. As of 2 a.m. Saturday, PAGASA said the tropical depression over the Caroline Islands was estimated at 1,350 km east of Mindanao. But Philippine-based weather site Typhoon2000 described the cyclone as a tropical storm, with maximum winds of 65 kph. The site said that as of 6 a.m. Saturday, the cyclone was moving west-northwest at 9 kph. PAGASA also said an Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is affecting Visayas and Mindanao, and a cold front is affecting Northern Luzon. “Northern Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms while Visayas and Mindanao will be mostly cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening," it said. — LBG, GMA News