'Pablo' turns back near PHL but no cause for storm warning yet

Tropical Cyclone Pablo (Bopha) has changed direction and is moving north-northeast, state weather forecasters said Friday evening.

 

But PAGASA forecaster Manny Mendoza indicated Pablo is not powerful enough to raise storm signals in the Philippines at this time.

 

"Ito ay nasa karagatan, sa West Philippine Sea. Wala na pong babala sa bagyong ito (It is already in the West Philippine Sea. There is no storm signal due to Pablo)," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

PAGASA's 5 p.m. weather forecast indicated that Pablo moving north-northeast.

 

However, PAGASA forecasters earlier said it may weaken when it meets the cold winds from the northeast monsoon affecting Northern Luzon.

 

PAGASA's 5 p.m. bulletin indicated that, as of 4 p.m., Pablo was estimated at 530 km northwest of Coron, Palawan or 445 km west of Subic, Zambales.

 

It packed maximum sustained winds of 120 kph and gustiness of up to 150 kph and is forecast to move north-northeast at 7 kph.

 

The northeast monsoon is affecting Northern Luzon while the inter-tropical convergence Zone (ITCZ) is affecting Mindanao, it added.

 

"Western Visayas and Mindanao will be cloudy with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Cagayan Valley and the regions of Ilocos and Cordillera will have light rain," it said.

 

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with brief rain showers or thunderstorms.

 

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the east to southeast over the rest of Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

 

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the east to southeast with slight to moderate seas. — TJD, GMA News