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Typhoon Dolphin is no longer expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier, the said weather disturbance is set to recurve as the presence of the High Pressure Area above the Philippines hinders its supposed entry into the country’s eastern boundary.

Source: DOST-PAGASA
Source: DOST-PAGASA

Today, the Ridge of High Pressure Area reaching Luzon brings partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms usually occurring in the afternoon or evening. The same weather condition is expected to persist this weekend.

Meanwhile, the El Nino phenomenon is expected to persist in the northern hemisphere until the end of 2015. Based on the latest data of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the sea surface temperature anomaly continues in the equatorial Pacific.

In the Philippines, the persistence of the said phenomenon will incur below normal rainfall, above normal temperatures and weak tropical cyclone activity.

Latest Image from the Japan Meteorological Agency
Latest Image from the Japan Meteorological Agency

The tropical storm with international name “Dolphin” continues to intensify as it moves over the Pacific Ocean. Dolphin is a cyclone name contributed by Hongkong, referring to the white dolphin found in its waters. When a tropical storm is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), it is called by its international name but once it enters our boundary, it will then be given a local name. Dolphin is expected to enter the PAR by weekend and will be named “Egay.”

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Alvin Pura said this tropical storm will possibly intensify further before reaching the PAR. However, the latest models show that Dolphin will not make landfall but will re-curve instead. Thus, there is a slim chance for it to hit the landmass. Still, continuous monitoring is still a must.

As of now, Dolphin is still too far to directly affect the country. The ridge or the extended part of a high pressure area (HPA) prevails as the dominant weather system within the PAR today. Generally fair weather will be experienced in most parts of the country aside from the possible isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

On the other hand, rain showers and thunderstorms have frequently occured during the past few days. Many have asked if the rainy season has already begun. Pura said we often experience rains due to the localized thunderstorms, which are just normal during May. Related article: THUNDERSTORM: Is it normal during “tag-init”?

Meanwhile, the hot and dry season is still on. NAIA Parañaque felt the highest temperature yesterday. Here are the top 5 highest temperatures recorded by PAGASA:

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Powerful earthquake strikes Japan

Aside from the strong quake felt yesterday in Nepal, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake jolted Northeastern Japan early this morning. The US Geological Survey located the epicenter at 33 kilometers southeast of Ofunato, Japan with a depth of 38.9 kilometers, equivalent to 24.1 miles. Reports said train services were temporarily suspended after the quake.

Image from USGS
Image from USGS

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Good News came early this morning as PAGASA announced that “Dodong” has already exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 1:00 AM today. At 4:00 AM, it was spotted at 830 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes. Compared to previous days, it has weakened with maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 140 kilometers per hour. Moving northeast, Dodong has accelerated to 45 kilometers per hour towards the southern part of Japan.

Now that Dodong is out of the PAR, easterlies or winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, will prevail, affecting the eastern section of the country. Due to its warm and humid characteristics, this wind system will bring hot weather in most parts of the county.

The whole archipelago is expected to have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. PAGASA has also terminated the gale warning, thus, slight to moderate sea condition will prevail throughout the country.

Latest image from Japan Meteorological Agency
Latest image from Japan Meteorological Agency

Meanwhile, another tropical storm is now being monitored outside the PAR. With the international name “Dolphin,” it is now classified as a tropical storm. At approximately 3,000 kilometers east of Mindanao, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Alvin Pura said it is still too far to directly affect the Philippines. However, if it maintains its velocity, Dolphin will possibly enter our boundary by the weekend.

Since one typhoon has already entered the PAR during the early part of the month, Pura said that it is normal for another storm to enter the boundary because the average number of tropical cyclones during May is 1 to 2.

Pura added that as of now, there is a slim chance for Dolphin to engage in landfall activity, and it has higher chance of recurvature. All are advised to monitor updates and further development.