PAGASA: 2 cyclones may hit PHL in November

At least two cyclones may hit the Philippines in November, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Saturday. The prediction came as PAGASA started tracking a new potential cyclone – a shallow low-pressure area (SLPA) – off Eastern Samar province. “We can expect only two cyclones this month," PAGASA forecaster Jun Galang said in an interview on dzBB radio, when asked how many cyclones can be expected this month. Galang said their models show the SLPA was estimated at 450 northeast of Borongan town in Eastern Samar as of 2 a.m., embedded in the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone. But he did not say if the SLPA would become a cyclone while in Philippine territory. If the SLPA intensifies into a cyclone, it will be codenamed “Sendong." For Saturday, Galang said scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may be expected over eastern Luzon and northeast Mindanao, which can trigger flash floods and landslides. Other parts of the country including Metro Manila can expect isolated rain showers, he added. “Hanggang next week (ang pag-ulan-ulan) pero hindi ito continuous, may break naman," he said. PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin said the eastern section of Luzon and northeastern Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides. It added the rest of the country will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms," added PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin. “Moderate to strong winds blowing from the east to northeast will prevail over Luzon and Eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the southwest to west with slight to moderate seas," it said. — LBG, GMA News