The country will be spared from being hit by powerful Typhoon “Nangka,” as it barrels toward Japan with maximum sustained winds of at least 185 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 220 kph.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Nangka, which blew in the Pacific Ocean about 1,700 kilometers east of Luzon, will likely not enter the Philippine area of responsibility.
“It will have no direct effect on the country,” Pagasa meteorologist Buddy Javier said.
But as it nears the country’s boundary, the typhoon would enhance the prevailing southwest monsoon and trigger more rains over many parts of Luzon starting July 15.
Nangka comes on the heels of Typhoon “Falcon” (international name: Chan-hom), which did not make a landfall but had combined with Tropical Storm “Egay” (Linfa) to cause flooding and work and class disruptions in many parts of Luzon and Western Visayas last week.
Like Falcon, Nangka is moving northwestward to Japan.
Amid the back-to-back cyclones, Pagasa has reiterated its warning of an upcoming strong El Niño taking hold from October to December this year.