PAGASA: January 2013 may be a 'break' from cyclones

After suffering losses from two cyclones this month, the Philippines may expect a break from cyclones in the first month of 2013, state weather forecasters said Saturday. PAGASA forecaster Fernando Cada said there is a low chance of tropical cyclones entering or forming inside the Philippines due to the cold and dry weather. "Sa January mababa ang possibility na magkaroon ng tropical cyclone development at activity," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. But Cada reiterated PAGASA's advice to the public to wear extra layers of clothing especially before dawn as the weather will get colder. "Posibleng umiral na weather system ang tail-end of a cold front o kaya ang northeast monsoon," he said. In December, Tropical Cyclones Pablo (Bopha) and Quinta (Wukong) devastated parts of Mindanao and Visayas. Pablo left more than 1,000 dead while Quinta's death toll so far has hit 12. For Saturday, PAGASA said the tail-end of a cold front is affecting Northern Luzon. "Cagayan Valley and the province of Aurora will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with brief rain showers or thunderstorms," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to east will prevail throughout the archipelago and the coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Also, PAGASA said strong to gale-force winds may affect the northern seaboard of northern Luzon and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Visayas. "Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. — LBG, GMA News