MT Satellite image December 1, 2014 6:01 a.m. Screengrab from https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/
MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau expects up to two more cyclones until the year ends.
So far, 17 cyclones have entered the country this year. Storm ‘Queenie’ (international name: Sinlaku) was the latest and left at least four dead in the Visayas.
About 20 cyclones hit the Philippines every year.
The strongest typhoon in 2014 named Ompong (Vongfong) entered the Philippine area of responsibility but did not make landfall.
The southwest monsoon, or hanging habagat, shifted into the northeast monsoon, or hanging amihan, in mid-October.
State-run Panahon TV said the amihan season was not conducive to developing or intensifying cyclones due to its cold and dry characteristics. But cyclones that form during this season are more likely to make landfall since amihan comes from the northeast and its cyclones form near the equator.
Such storms are likely to make landfall over the Visayas and Mindanao.
No tropical cyclones are currently threatening the country, said Ben Oris of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Nonetheless, easterlies will affect the eastern portion of Luzon and the Visayas on Monday. The whole country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains or thunderstorms.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the east to northeast will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough, Pagasa said.
Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the east to northeast with slight to moderate seas.
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