Queenie enters PAR, no direct effects expected – PAGASA

MANILA — Tropical storm Surigae entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday morning and was assigned the local name Queenie, according to PAGASA.

As of 10 a.m., it was located 1,310 kilometers east of northern Luzon. 

It had maximum winds of 75 kilometers per hour with gustiness up to 90 kph. It was moving west northwestward at 35 kph.

State weather forecasters said the weather disturbance was not expected to directly affect the country or enhance the southwest monsoon or Habagat.

“Wala pong direktang epekto ang Bagyong Queenie dito sa ating bansa pero magkakaroon ng localized thunderstorms sa part ng Visayas at Mindanao area by Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Ito ‘yung mga afternoon or evening thunderstorms so medyo short duration pero may malalakas na pag-ulan na kasama,” Weather Division Chief Juanito Galang said.

(Tropical cyclone Queenie will not directly affect the country but localized thunderstorms may be experienced in parts of Visayas and Mindanao from Friday to Sunday. Afternoon or evening thunderstorms may be short in duration but can also bring heavy rainfall.) 

No rainfall advisories or heavy rainfall warnings are expected.

However, indirect effects may be felt in parts of Caraga and Davao Region due to the tropical cyclone’s trough or extension. 

“‘Yung general weather po natin dito sa Metro Manila at natitirang bahagi ng bansa, less clouds pero posible pa rin ‘yung mga localized thunderstorms o ‘yung mga panandaliang pag-ulan,” weather forecaster John Manalo said.

(Metro Manila and other parts of the country will see fewer clouds but localized thunderstorms or short-lived rain showers are still possible.)

Sea conditions may become rough along the seaboards of Luzon as Queenie approaches the area.

“Asahan natin ang epekto naman sa karagatan habang papalapit [ang bagyo]. Magkakaroon ng medyo kataasang alon hanggang two meters dito sa may part ng Batanes at Babuyan area, kasama na rin ang northern at eastern seaboard ng Luzon,” Galang added.

(We should also expect impacts on sea conditions as Queenie moves closer. Wave heights of up to two meters may be experienced in Batanes and Babuyan area, as well as along the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon.)

Queenie is expected to gradually intensify while moving northwestward over the Philippine Sea. 

It may reach typhoon strength east of Taiwan on Sunday, September 27. 

The current PAGASA forecast track shows it may recurve east of Taiwan, turn northeastward, and exit the PAR on Tuesday next week.

The country is now in the tail-end of the Habagat season, which may end soon.

“Posible na mag-declare na ‘yung PAGASA ng termination ng southwest monsoon or Habagat sa susunod na dalawang linggo,” Manalo said.