The Tropical Storm with international name Lan entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) last night and was given the local name, Paolo, the country’ 16th Tropical Cyclone this 2017.

At 11:00 AM today, the cyclone has intensified into a severe tropical storm and was at 765 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It has maximum sustained winds of 90 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph. The storm is forecast to move west-northwest at 7 kph.

In an interview, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong said that Paolo may recurve and miss the landmass due to a current interaction with a Low Pressure Area (LPA) located west of Palawan. But Paolo may also intensify into a typhoon before exiting PAR by Sunday and head towards Japan.

No tropical cyclone warning signal was issued but the outer rainbands of Paolo may bring scattered light to moderate with possible occasional heavy rains over Bicol Region, Visayas and Mindanao. Meanwhile, the LPA will bring scattered light to moderate with possible occasional heavy rains over Palawan. In the rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail, apart from isolated rain showers mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Tropical Storm Odette has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) but a new weather disturbance threatens the country.

In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong, he said that the tropical depression was spotted at 1,055 kilometers east of Mindanao. It has maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph), gustiness of 65 kph, moving west-northwest at 15 kph. According to Quitlong, the tropical depression may intensify into a tropical storm and enter PAR this Monday.

In the next hours, Mindanao, Western Visayas, and Palawan will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms. In the rest of the country including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail apart from isolated rain showers mostly in the afternoon or evening. This weather condition is caused by Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) that affects Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Gale warning is up in the northern seaboard he western seaboard of Southern Luzon, and the northern and western seaboard of Northern Luzon, where rough to very rough sea condition is expected. Sea travel is risky for fishing boats and other small seacraft as wave height may reach up to 3.4 to 4.5 meters.