New storm likely to hit Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — A brewing weather disturbance over the Pacific Ocean may hit Eastern Mindanao in areas ravaged by Tropical Storm Vinta on New Year’s Day, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned yesterday.

Rene Paciente, chief of PAGASA’s marine meteorological services section, said the cloud clusters spotted east of Mindanao may develop into a low-pressure area before entering the Philippine area of responsibility this weekend.

“Many models now show that the cloud clusters will develop and cross Eastern Mindanao,” Paciente told The STAR.

Based on the latest forecast, it may hit Eastern Mindanao on Jan. 1 or 2, “but Jan. 1 is more possible,” Paciente added.

Even if it will not develop into a tropical cyclone, Paciente said the approaching weather disturbance is still expected to carry moderate to heavy to at times intense rains to the already saturated portion of Mindanao this weekend.

Previous cyclones Urduja (international name Kai-tak) and Vinta (Tembin) inundated several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao before Christmas, leaving more than 200 people dead.

“We warn the public against possible flash floods and landslides that could be triggered by this weather disturbance,” Paciente said.

The PAGASA official, however, said the new disturbance is not expected to surpass the strength of Urduja or Vinta.

Urduja and Vinta had caused P1.24 billion in damage and losses to the agricultural sector based on the Department of Agriculture’s latest report.

Meanwhile, the tail-end of a cold front will bring scattered rains over the Visayas and Bicol region.

The northeast monsoon, meanwhile, will bring widespread rains over Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Aurora and Quezon.

The same weather system will bring isolated rains over Metro Manila, Ilocos region, the rest of Central Luzon and Region 4-A.

Region 4-B and Mindanao will experience  isolated rainshowers due to localized thunderstorms. 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is closely monitoring the weather disturbance, alerting residents in typhoon-ravaged regions to brace for flash floods and landslides. – Jaime Laude