DOST-PAGASA satellite image
MANILA – Cloud clusters being monitored inside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) are likely to develop into a tropical cyclone over the weekend, a forecaster said Thursday.
"These cloud clusters have a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within 24 to 48 hours," Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
However, these are forecast to develop into a cyclone over the weekend and will be named Julian -- the 10th for this year and sixth cyclone for September.
Julian is forecast to affect Northern Luzon, Estareja said.
A low-pressure area was spotted about 2,000 km. outside PAR but Estareja said it has a slim chance of entering the PAR.
Meanwhile, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Palawan and isolated rain showers over the Visayas and Mindanao.
Isolated rain showers caused by localized thunderstorms are also forecast over the rest of Luzon.
Light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas will continue to prevail across the archipelago, PAGASA said.
Damage to agri
Meanwhile, damage to agriculture due to the effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) and tropical cyclones Ferdie, Gener, Helen and Igme reached PHP600.8 million in three regions, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
In its update Thursday, the NDRRCM said the affected areas are Regions 6, 9 and Mimaropa.
Mimaropa suffered the most, recording PHP431,456,606 worth of losses; PHP168,184,324 for Region 6; and PHP1,190,730 for Region 9.
Affected farmers and fisherfolk are at 11,170 for all three regions.
Total crop damage was placed at 11,696.12 hectares, of which 8,808.9 hectares was classified as partially damaged and had a chance of recovery.
Meanwhile, 2,887.22 hectares was deemed as totally damaged.
In the same update, infrastructure damage was placed at PHP22,687,500 and these were incurred in eight regions.
The series of weather disturbances affected 393,058 families or 1,473,640 persons in 13 regions. The reported fatalities were placed at 26, with four verified so far. (With report from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
