Pagasa forecasts 1 to 2 storms in May

The Philippines may see one to two storms in May. GRAPHICS BY INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — One or two storms may enter or form within the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) for May, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

“Ngayong buwan ng Mayo, isa o hanggang sa dalawang bagyo ang maaring pumasok ng ating PAR (this month of May, one or two typhoons may enter our PAR),” said Pagasa weather specialist Rhea Torres in Pagasa’s latest forecast.

READ: Labor Day forecast: Overcast skies, rain over Mindanao

But Torres said that no low-pressure areas are currently being monitored, nor are they expected to enter PAR until next week.

Should a typhoon form, Torres said the state weather bureau’s climatology department forecast two possible tracks — the first being the possibility of the storm making near-shore landfall before moving away from the country.

The other possible track would be to see storms forming or entering from the eastern section of Mindanao and then proceeding to approach Cagayan Valley, Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region Mimaropa, and parts of Calabarzon before leaving PAR past the West Philippine Sea.

READ: Pagasa: ‘Extreme danger’ heat levels still to come

Torres then reminded the public to monitor weather updates regularly as typhoon tracks change based on the conditions present.

Pagasa previously warned that the country may continue to experience hot temperatures and extreme heat index levels during the summer on top of the lingering effects of the El Niño phenomenon.