Jun 102013
 
After enhancing the southwest monsoon, Tropical Storm Dante (international codename Yagi) exited the Philippine area of responsibility Monday night, state weather forecasters said.

In its 10:30 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said Tropical Storm Dante maintained its strength as it moved north-northeast at 17 kph.

“Tropical Storm Dante will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains and thunderstorms particularly over the western section of southern Luzon and Visayas,” it said.

As of 10 p.m., PAGASA estimated Tropical Storm Dante to be 1,280 km northeast of Basco, Batanes or 680 km east-southeast of Okinawa, Japan. By Tuesday morning, it is expected to be 1,350 km northeast of Basco, Batanes or at 690 km east of Okinawa, Japan.

It said Dante packed maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph.

No public storm warning signals were raised, PAGASA said. — DVM, GMA News

Jun 102013
 
PAGASA: Rainy season officially here

Now it’s official: the rainy season for this year has finally started, state weather forecasters said Monday afternoon. PAGASA declared the start of the rainy season at 2 p.m. after noting the criteria have been met, radio dzBB’s Divine Caraecle reported. According to PAGASA forecaster Ricky Fabregas, Tropical Storm Dante (international name: Yagi) played a major role in ushering in the rainy season by enhancing the southwest monsoon. Fabregas also cited the almost daily thunderstorms that brought rain to Metro Manila and other parts of the country in past weeks. On the other hand, Fabregas said that while the rainy season may be here, there may still be “breaks” where there may be no rain for two days to a week. Earlier, PAGASA said the rainy season usually starts in the last week of May or the first part of June. — TJD, GMA News

Jun 092013
 
PAGASA: TS Dante may exit PAR by Tuesday; rainy season may start this week

Tropical Storm Dante (international code name Yagi) continued to move fruther away from the country Monday and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility as early as Tuesday morning, state weather forecasters said. Citing PAGASA’s models, PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said Tropical Storm Dante is now heading for Okinawa in Japan. She also said the conditions were “ripe” for them to declare the start of the rainy season within this week. The southwest winds were now affecting the country, but they are waiting for “sustained” rain to formally declare the start of the rainy season. As of 4 a.m. Monday, Tropical Storm Dante was estimated at 1,030 km northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is forecast to move north-northeast at 15 kph, PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. Monday outlook For Monday, PAGASA said Mimaropa, Bicol and western Visayas will experience “cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.” Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be “partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening,” it added. PAGASA also said moderate to strong winds from the southwest to west will prevail over extreme northern Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be moderate to occasionally strong coming from the southwest with moderate to occasionally rough seas. — DVM, GMA News