The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said The Philippines may be hit by two to three more tropical cyclones before the year ends.
PAGASA earlier warned that most of the cyclones which enter the country in the latter part of the year are “land-falling” or crossing the landmass. This year, 17 cyclones have hit the country so far.
As reported by meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz as cited from gmanetwork.com, PAGASA said that if the cyclones enter The Philippines, they are likely to make landfall in Luzon or Visayas.
Meanwhile, tropical cyclones are classified according to strength:
- Tropical Depression - a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of up to 61 kph or less than 33 nautical miles per hour (knots)
- Tropical Storm - a tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed of 62 to 88 kph or 34 to 47 knots.
- Severe Tropical Storm - a tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed of 89 to 117 kph or 48 to 63 knots.
- Typhoon - a tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed of 118 to 220 kph or 64 to 120 knots.
- Super Typhoon - a tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed greater than 200 kph or more than 120 knots.
Located along the typhoon belt in the Pacific, the Philippines is visited by an average of 20 cyclones every year, five of which are destructive, the Asian Disaster Reduction Center said.
The intertropical convergence zone or ITCZ, however, will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains over Palawan, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao. The ITCZ is the breeding ground for low-pressure areas or potential tropical cyclones.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country, meanwhile, will experience fair weather except for isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.
PAGASA warned against possible flash floods and landslides during severe thunderstorms.
Earlier, PAGASA warned that dry spell to drought conditions are likely to affect most areas of Luzon in the coming months due to the developing El Niño phenomenon.
El Niño refers to above-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean and is associated with below normal rainfall.
Sources: Philstar.com, gmanetwork.com