New tropical storm to enter PAR over the weekend - PAGASA

Metro Manila, Philippines – A new tropical storm is seen to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) over the weekend, just days after severe tropical storm Kristine battered Luzon and Visayas, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Forecasters last spotted the storm 1,630 kilometers east of Central Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gusts of up to 80 km/h.

The weather bureau said the cyclone, with an international name ‘Kong-Rey’, may enter the country’s weather monitoring zone tonight or tomorrow, Oct. 27. It will be named ‘Leon’ once it reaches the PAR.

PAGASA said the weather disturbance may intensify into a severe tropical storm on Sunday, and may reach typhoon category on Monday, Oct. 28.

“It may also continue to influence the southwesterly windflow initially triggered by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, which may affect the western section of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the coming days,” the weather bureau said.

PAGASA said the storm’s path will be far from the Philippine landmass but may still change within the coming days.

Meanwhile, severe tropical storm Kristine - which exited the weather monitoring zone on Friday, may loop counterclockwise over the West Philippine Sea on Sunday and Monday and move towards the PAR.

This forecast depends on weather systems that might affect Kristine, including the tropical storm spotted outside of PAR, the bureau said.

The trough of Kristine will continue triggering scattered rains over Occidental Mindoro and Palawan within the day.