Weather: 'Quiel' now out of PHL territory

Tropical cyclone "Quiel" (international name: Nalgae) is out of Philippine territory and state weather forecasters are now focusing their efforts on tracking a new potential cyclone that may pose a new threat to Northern Luzon. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Sonny Pajarilla said the low-pressure area (LPA) may not be as big a threat as the last two cyclones — typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel." "Malapit na ito sa kalupaan, ito ang maganda sa low-pressure system, hindi na masyado makaporma kumbaga. Hindi natin inaasahan, we do not look at na base sa ating forecast, na ito magiging sintindi kung sakaling maging bagyo, maging sinlakas," Pajarilla said in an interview over radio dzBB. Pajarilla said their models show that the potential cyclone will likely develop into a tropical depression by Wednesday and then head toward Northern Luzon. However, he said it is also possible that the LPA may dissolve before becoming a cyclone. "Ito medyo malapit, mas maganda sana kung malusaw. May chance ito malusaw," he said. According to PAGASA's 5:00 a.m. bulletin on Monday, the LPA was estimated at 530 kilometers (km) northeast of Visayas, embedded along the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as of 2:00 a.m. Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, PAGASA said. The rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. 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. Improving weather On its Twitter account, PAGASA said the weather will likely improve in the next three days. "(We expect) improving weather condition over Northern Luzon within the next three days," it said. However, PAGASA said strong to gale-force winds associated with "Quiel" may still affect the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the Western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon. "Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it advised. "Quiel" out of PHL territory PAGASA said "Quiel" exited Philippine territory on Sunday night, weakening into a tropical storm. As of 10:00 p.m. Sunday, it was estimated at 510 km west-northwest of Baguio City, with maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kilometers per hour (kph). It is forecast to move west at 20 kph and be 610 km west-northwest of Baguio City Monday morning. However, it said “Quiel" will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rain over the western section of Luzon. - VVP, GMA News