‘Glenda’ intensifies but still not likely to affect RP

Tropical Storm Glenda (international code name Kompasu) intensified slightly Monday but state weather forecasters said it is still not likely to affect any part of the country. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Elvie Enriquez said “Glenda" is moving toward southern Japan though it is in Philippine territory. "Although itong si ‘Glenda’ ay walang epekto sa anumang bahagi ng ating kapuluan dahil napakalayo at kumikilos papalayo, ito ay pumasok sa Philippine area of responsibility (‘Glenda’ is not likely to affect the country and is moving away. But we are still tracking it because it is still in the Philippine Area of Responsibility)," Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio. She said no storm signals had been raised as of 5 a.m. Monday due to Glenda.

Instead, Enriquez said tropical cyclone “Florita" (Lionrock), which exited Philippine territory last weekend, is still indirectly affecting the country. Enriquez said “Florita," which is heading for China, is still enhancing the southwest monsoon in the Philippines. "Ang magiging epekto niya sa atin ang paghatak pa rin sa southwest monsoon (‘Florita’ is still affecting parts of the country by enhancing the southwest monsoon)," she said. PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin indicated that as of 2 a.m. Monday, Glenda was estimated at 1,090 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph and is forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph. "Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," PAGASA said in its bulletin. — RSJ, GMANews.TV