Pagasa expects 1 to 2 more storms before 2020 ends

MANILA, Philippines — The country could see one to two more storms before the year ends, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Wednesday.

According to the state weather bureau, storms entering the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) at this time of the year usually move along Bicol Region towards Central Luzon, or near Eastern Visayas or Northern Mindanao.

There are also instances where cyclones do not hit land and exit PAR through the northeastern border.

If storms enter, they would be given the names Vicky and Warren.

“Ngayong buwan ng Disyembre 2020 isa o dalawang bagyo ang posibleng pumasok sa loob ng ating PAR, at ang susunod namang mga pangalan ng mga bagyo, Vicky at Warren,” weather specialist Ariel Rojas said.

(For the month of December we are expecting one or two storms to possibly enter the PAR, and these would be named Vicky and Warren.)

“At base po sa climatology ng mga nagdaang bagyo sa buwan ng Disyembre, kadalasan pong nagla-landfall at tumatagos sa gitnang bahagi ng ating bansa ang mga bagyo, dyan sa may Bicol Region, Visayas, Mimaropa, at dito po sa may Northern Mindanao, patawid po ‘yan sa West Philippine Sea,” he added.

(And based on the climatology of the past cyclones for the month of December, storms usually make landfall and pass through the midsection of the country, somewhere over Bicol Region, Visayas, Mimaropa, and Northern Mindanao, crossing unto the West Philippine Sea.)

Prior to this, the country was rocked by a series of successive storms that had a great effect on agriculture and infrastructure.  In just a month’s time — between October 11 to Thursday, November 12 — eight cyclones entered PAR with all but one making landfall.

Within this eight includes Typhoons Pepito and Quinta, Super Typhoon Rolly, and the most recent Typhoon Ulysses which brought immense flooding in Metro Manila, nearby towns of Rizal province, Central Luzon, and Cagayan Valley.

CFC