Storm unlikely to enter PAR – Pagasa

Tropical Storm ‘Jongdari’ (upper right) may not enter the Philippine area of responsibility, said Pagasa on July 25, 2018. PAGASA PHOTO

The storm raging east of Luzon over the Pacific Ocean is not likely to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), the weather bureau said Wednesday.

At 3 a.m.,  Tropical Storm “Jongdari” (international name) was spotted 1,515 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon and moving northwest at 15 kilometers per hour (kph), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph.

Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Western Visayas will have occasional rain due to the southwest monsoon.

The storm has no direct effect to the country but will boost the monsoon, according to Pagasa.

Cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms are forecast over the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers. /cbb