Weather: 'Egay' exits; potential cyclone enters PHL

After bringing rains to parts of the country during the weekend, Tropical Depression Egay exited the country Monday afternoon, just as a new potential cyclone entered Philippine territory. But the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said it is now tracking the potential cyclone that entered the Philippine area of responsibility. "Kapapasok pa lang nito kaya hindi pa ito makakaapekto sa anumang parte ng Pilipinas (The new low-pressure area has just entered Philippine territory and we do not expect it to directly affect any part of the country for now)," PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said in an interview on dzBB radio. He also said the new LPA – to be codenamed "Falcon" once it becomes a cyclone – is likely to move northward and eventually exit toward Southern Japan. Quitlong added the new potential cyclone, which is presently a low-pressure area, is estimated at 870 km east of Southern Visayas as of 4 p.m. 'Falcon' more powerful than 'Egay' For his part, Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said 'Falcon' could even intensify into a storm and be powerful than Egay. "Si ‘Falcon’ mas magiging malakas kesa ‘Egay’ ... Bukas o Wednesday na hapon magiging tropical depression, after half-day or one day, magiging tropical storm siya," Yumul said in an interview on dzRH radio. But he added that there is a possibility Falcon will not make landfall on the Philippines, like in the case of Egay. Egay In its 5 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said Egay maintained its course and is now outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). As of 4 p.m. Monday, it said Egay was about 280 km northwest of Laoag City or at 320 km west of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and was moving west northwest at 20 kph. By Tuesday morning, it is expected to be 490 km northwest of Laoag City or at 530 km west of Basco, Batanes. No more public storm warning signals were raised on any part of the country. However, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon enhanced by Egay will still bring rains over the western sections of Luzon and the Visayas. No casualties so far Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said it has received no report of casualties from Egay so far. "Walang patay, walang nalunod, wala ring pagbaha kagabi (We received no report of deaths, drowning or floods due to ‘Egay’)," NDRRMC head Benito Ramos said in a separate interview on dzRH. Ramos said the reports they received even indicated Egay may have helped corn farmers in Northern Luzon because it brought much-needed rain there. "Maganda yan para sa farmers natin (It was good for our farmers)," he said. — RSJ, GMA News