Typhoon Saudel forecast to enter PH Area of Responsibility August 24

Typhoon Saudel is forecast to enter the northeastern boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday and will enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat”, the weather bureau said.

As of 3 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Saudel was located 1,660 km. east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 175 km. per hour (kph) near the center, while moving west-northwestward at 30 kph.

PAGASA said Saudel, which will be given the local name Obet, will remain over the Philippine Sea and may develop into a super typhoon before exiting the PAR on Tuesday.

Batanes will experience occasional rains due to the southwest monsoon, and moderate to heavy rains may bring flash floods or landslides.

Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Cavite, Batangas, and Rizal will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms also due to habagat.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.

The northern and western sections of Luzon experience moderate to strong southwest winds and moderate to rough seas.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau is also monitoring a tropical depression 1,330 km. east of southern Luzon, but it is not expected to enter PAR.

Tropical Depression Gaenari (formerly Neneng) is already outside the PAR near Taiwan but, like Saudel, will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon. (PNA)