‘Tomas’ drifting back closer to PAR — Pagasa data

Typhoon “Tomas” (international name “Man-Yi”) remained almost stationary outside the northeastern border of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Sunday but showed signs of again moving closer to Luzon, data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) indicated.

Based on Pagasa’s latest weather bulletin at 4 a.m., Tomas had changed course again and was drifting back closer to the PAR.

It entered the PAR at 8 p.m., Friday, traveled north then northeast and exited the Philippine area of responsibility. Pagasa found Tomas 1,550 kilometers (kms) east of Aparri, Cagayan, outside the PAR, at 10 a.m., Saturday.

At 10 p.m., Saturday, it remained in the same general location as it was tracked moving east-northeast at 10 kph.

As of 3 a.m., Sunday, the eye of the storm was found closer to Aparri at a distance of 1,525 kms, showing it moving west-northwest closer to the PAR.

It is expected to re-enter the PAR within the day.

Tomas maintained maximum sustained winds of 145 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 180 kph.

Amid its current track, Pagasa said Tomas still had no direct effect on any part of the country.

Nevertheless, the northeast monsoon or amihan will be bringing clouds and light rain to the Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region, Pagasa said.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers due to localized thunderstorms. /cbb