Fair weather seen despite passage of typhoon east of PH

MT Satellite image October 18, 2013, Friday, 4:32PM. Screengrab from https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/

MANILA—Fair weather is forecast to prevail in most parts of the country during the weekend in spite of the approach of another typhoon, the state weather bureau said Friday.

The typhoon (international name: Francisco), which will be given the local name “Urduja” if it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility, is expected to only “graze”  the country’s northernmost area as it heads for southern Japan, forecasters said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the typhoon would likely head for southern Japan without having much effect on any part of the Philippines.

“We expect generally fair weather nationwide,” forecaster Jun Galang said.

Pagasa earlier announced the onset of the northeast monsoon, or “hanging amihan,” signaling the beginning of the cold months, especially in Northern Luzon.

According to Pagasa’s 24-hour weather outlook, the Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley will experience scattered light rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, it added.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail in Luzon, and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough, Pagasa said.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast to north with slight to moderate seas, it said.