Pagasa
MANILA, Philippines — A low-pressure area (LPA) off Samar island developed into a tropical storm on Sunday evening and was named “Enteng,” the fifth to enter the country this year.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), TS Enteng is expected to move in a northwesterly direction along Luzon’s eastern seaboard.
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In the 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the weather bureau said Enteng was 100 kilometers northeast of Catarman, Northern Samar, or 115 km east southeast of Virac, Catanduanes.
Pagasa weather specialist Veronica Torres said that while Enteng is not expected to directly affect Metro Manila, it may enhance the southwest monsoon.
Enteng is forecast to move generally northwestward until early Monday morning and may make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes or Albay during which it may also intensify into a tropical storm and a typhoon by Thursday or Friday.
Starting Monday, it may take a more northerly tack over the waters east of Luzon.
Forecasters are not ruling out another landfall in Northern Luzon or Babuyan Islands.
Enteng is moving northwestward at 15 km per hour, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gusts of 70 kph, according to the Pagasa.
Strong winds
The weather bureau hoisted tropical cyclone wind signals in 11 areas due to the threat of strong winds with speed of 39 to 61 kph, but with “minimal to minor threat to life and property.”
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was raised in the southeastern portion of Cagayan, northern portion of Aurora, southern portion of Quirino province, Polillo Islands, southern portion of mainland Quezon province, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands.
This was also hoisted over the provinces of Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran and the northeastern portion of Leyte, particularly the towns of Babatngon, San Miguel, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Santa Fe, Palo and Barugo.