New cyclone to spare typhoon-battered Luzon this time—Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines—A new cyclone has entered the country but it would spare the flooded central Luzon and the landslide-prone highlands, the weather bureau said on Monday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the low pressure area that formed over the waters off eastern Mindanao has intensified into a tropical depression and was named Ramon. It is the 18th tropical cyclone to enter the Philippines this year.

Unlike the recent weather disturbances that ravaged the country, Ramon would avoid mainland Luzon. The last two typhoons that entered the mainland dumped so much rain, causing the most destructive floods in the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga in recent years.

The rains from Pedring and Quiel also caused landslides in the highlands of Luzon.

According to Pagasa’s administrator, Nathaniel Servando, Ramon formed in the lower latitudes, nearer the equator.

As such, the cyclone would hit northeastern Mindanao and Visayas before exiting via northern Palawan, Pagasa said.

As of 10 a.m. Monday, Ramon was spotted 600 kilometers east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. It was packing 55 kilomerters per hour wind near the center and was churning west at 15 kph.

No public storm warning signals have been raised yet.

Pagasa said residents of Mindanao and central Visayas should be prepared for downpours this week. By Tuesday morning, the cyclone would be 300 kilometers east of Surigao del Sur; 60 km east of Surigao City by Wednesday; and in the vicinity of Iloilo City on Thursday.

“Very heavy rains” in northern Mindanao and Visayas could be experienced on Wednesday due to Ramon, Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said. The rains would also be felt in western Visayas and the Bicol peninsula, he added.

The rains from Ramon would not be as heavy as the rains from Pedring and Quiel, which topped at 25 mm/ hr. According to Pagasa, Ramon’s rain would be moderate to heavy at 5-20 mm/hr.

Yumul added that parts of Southern Luzon and Metro Manila could experience rains from Ramon on Friday. Ramon’s outer rain band might graze these areas while leaving the Philippines on Friday, he said.