New storm spotted; may enter PAR during Holy Week

A storm is seen to enter the Philippine area of responsibility during Holy Week, the state weather bureau said on Friday.

The tropical depression was last tracked 4,000 kilometers east of Mindanao and could enter PAR by Wednesday or Thursday, Aldczar Aurelio of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting for Holy Week preparations.

It is expected to intensify into a storm once it enters PAR but it won’t immediately affect the country.

The storm will be called “Chedeng” once it enters PAR.

Aurelio said the storm could either hit Bicol region or Eastern Visayas or recurve towards Northern Luzon. It could also move closer towards the northern part of the country.

Pagasa’s weather outlook is only up to April 3 or Good Friday.

While the storm won’t immediately affect the country once it enters PAR, rains are expected in parts of the country.

“Eastern Visayas and Caraga will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms in Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rains or thunderstorms on March 30 to 31,” Aurelio said.

From April 1 – 3, the whole country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rains or thunderstorms.

No gale warning is also expected from March 30 to April 3.