Weather disturbance looms in 2 weeks

MANILA, Philippines — A week after tropical cyclone Verbena traversed the Philippines, another weather disturbance is threatening to enter the country next week, based on projections by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

A tropical cyclone-like vortex is forecast to develop over the eastern boundary of the tropical cyclone advisory domain or TCAD, according to the state weather bureau’s tropical cyclone threat potential outlook for the period of Nov. 28 to Dec. 11.

The said system might move inside the Philippine area of responsibility or PAR with a low to moderate likelihood of tropical cyclone formation from Nov. 28 to Dec. 4, it said.

It added the system is expected to cross the Northern Mindanao-Visayas-Southern Luzon area with a low to moderate likelihood of tropical cyclone development” during the period of Dec. 5 to 11.

PAGASA also maintained “any changes in the forecast pattern will be closely monitored and updates will be issued as needed.”

Should it form as a tropical cyclone, it would be called Wilma, possibly the 22nd tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.

Despite the projection, PAGASA did not indicate any possible low-pressure area entering the country based on its 3 p.m. forecast yesterday. It noted it was monitoring Verbena that was located 360 kilometers northwest of Pag-asa Island in Palawan, or outside PAR.

The trough of Verbena would bring cloudy and rainy weather with thunderstorms in the Kalayaan Islands, according to the agency’s 24-hour public weather forecast.

Similar weather conditions would be experienced in Apayao and Cagayan due to the shear line.