PAGASA: Tropical Storm Pedring enters PHL

A tropical cyclone entered Philippine territory Saturday afternoon, but state weather forecasters maintained it is still too far to directly affect any part of the country. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA codenamed the storm "Pedring" (Nesat). "(Pedring) is still too far to directly affect any part of the country," PAGASA forecaster Ben Oris said in an interview on dzBB radio. PAGASA said that as of 4 p.m., Pedring was estimated at 1,030 km east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, with maximum winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It said Pedring is forecast to move west-northwest at 19 kph. Earlier, PAGASA forecaster Jun Galang said Pedring may make landfall on Wednesday. PAGASA forecast Pedring to be 890 km east of Baler, Aurora by Sunday afternoon. By Monday afternoon it is expected to be 510 km east-northeast of Baler, Aurora or at 500 km east-southeast of Tuguegarao City. By Tuesday afternoon, it is forecast to be 120 km east of Tuguegarao City. Philippine weather site Typhoon2000 said that as of 11 a.m., Pedring packed maximum winds of 75 kph and was moving west-northwest at 19 kph. On the other hand, the Japan Meteorological Agency, in its 2:45 p.m. update, said Pedring was moving west-northwest at 25 kph and had winds of 64 kph near the center. PAGASA said the Intertropical Convergence Zone may affect Luzon and Visayas. "The entire archipelago will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms," it said. — LBG, GMA News