Weather: ‘Quiel’ weakens, moves further away from PHL

Typhoon Quiel (Nalgae) weakened slightly as it continued to move away from Philippine territory Sunday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA also said a potential cyclone —- a low-pressure area — remains within Philippine territory, at 740 km east of Visayas. But while all public storm signals had been lowered, PAGASA warned Quiel will still enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rain over the western section of southern Luzon. PAGASA, in its Twitter account, estimated Quiel may exit the Philippine area of responsibility between 7 and 10 p.m. Sunday. As of 4 p.m., PAGASA said Quiel was estimated at 370 km west-northwest of Baguio City, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph. Quiel is forecast to move west at 20 kph and is forecast to be 610 km west-northwest of Baguio City Monday morning, PAGASA said. PAGASA said Luzon and Visayas will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, it added. Also, moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to south will prevail over Luzon and Visayas, and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate, blowing from the south with slight to moderate seas. — KBK, GMA News