Rain seen due to new typhoon

The Visayas and Mindanao will experience stronger rains by the middle of this week when a powerful typhoon enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

Typhoon “Soudelar,” packing maximum winds of 175 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 210 kph, will enter the PAR on Wednesday if it maintains its speed and direction.

As of Monday, it was 2,200 km east of Luzon and moving west-northwest at 20 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

It will be locally named Typhoon “Hanna,” the eighth cyclone to hit the country this year, once inside the PAR.

“It will enhance the southwest monsoon from Wednesday to Friday and bring rain to the Visayas and Mindanao. We will feel its peak on Thursday and Friday,” meteorologist Robert Badrina said.

He said forecast models showed the typhoon would not likely make landfall but would exit the PAR on Saturday.

Pagasa said Mindanao, Western Visayas and Palawan would have light to moderate rains with thunderstorms on Tuesday. The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, will have isolated thunderstorms.–Dona Z. Pazzibugan