By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .
THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) yesterday said it expects two to five more storms to enter the country’s territory before the year-end. This excludes the potential typhoon that may enter the Philippine area this weekend or early next week.
Luz Mercado, a weather specialist at the Pagasa station in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, revealed this forecast as the 19th storm to enter the Philippine territory, “Samuel,” moved away.
But weather forecasters have set their eyes on another tropical threat, a “severe tropical storm” named “Man-yi,” that would likely head for the Philippine area from the Northern Marianas territory.
Mercado said the storm would be called “Tomas” if it becomes the 20th storm to enter Philippine territory.
Mercado said “Man-yi” is hovering over the Pacific Ocean, still outside Philippine territory, but as it moves 45 kilometers per hour, it may enter on Sunday night or Monday morning.
A 12:15 pm Pagasa advisory yesterday said the tropical cyclone could enter the Philippine area this weekend.
In the advisory, Pagasa said the tropical cyclone was packing maximum sustained winds of 105 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 130 km per hour.
Man-yi’s center was estimated at 1,645 km east of the Visayas.
Pagasa advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management councils to be vigilant and monitor the situation because the tropical cyclone could intensify into a typhoon.
Mercado however said she doubts if “Man-yi” would directly affect Mindanao, saying it was tracking towards west northwest towards Northern Luzon.
“Kon dili ma-usab ang iyang direction, pasaka siya padulong sa Taiwan,” Mercado said.
She said Pagasa expects at least two more storms or as many as five, excluding “Tomas,” to hit the country before 2019.
After “Tomas,” the next storms that would enter the Philippine area would be named “Usman,” “Victor,” “Waldo,” “Yanyan” and “Zeny.”
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