Pagasa sees tropical storm at weekend

MANILA, Philippines–A tropical cyclone that could strengthen to storm intensity will hit the country’s eastern section later this week, according to the weather bureau.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Sunday said that given its current track, the cyclone may bring stormy weather to the Bicol region on the weekend.

As of Sunday, the cyclone was at tropical depression intensity, with maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour while over the sea about 1,600 kilometers east of Mindanao.

Moving in a west northwest direction at 9 kph, the cyclone will enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on May 7, said Pagasa meteorologist Gener Quitlong.

Once inside the PAR, the cyclone will be named “Dodong,” the fourth storm to hit the country this year.

Quitlong said Dodong will likely strengthen to storm intensity as it nears the landmass.

He said the storm will start to affect the eastern sections of the Visayas and Mindanao on May 8.

Unless the cyclone changes direction, it is forecast to make landfall in the Bicol region on May 9 or 10, Quitlong said.

Pagasa said that on average, one to two cyclones hit the country in the month of May.–Dona Z. Pazzibugan