Tropical Storm Saudel may enter PAR by Sunday or Monday — PAGASA

The tropical storm with international name "Saudel" is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Sunday, August 23, or Monday, August 24, state weather bureau PAGASA said Thursday.

As of 8 a.m., the tropical storm remains outside of PAR at 2,800 kms east of Eastern Visayas. It has maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center, and gusts of up to 90 kph.

"'Yung binabantayan naman nating tropical storm sa labas ng Philippine Area of Responsibility, 'yung may international name na Saudel, ay inaasahang posibleng pumasok ng PAR sa pagitan ng darating na Linggo hanggang sa Lunes," said PAGASA Assistant Weather Services Chief Chris Perez in an interview with "Balitanghali."

(The tropical storm we are monitoring outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, with the international name Saudel, is expected to possibly enter PAR between this coming Sunday and Monday.)

With the entry of a new cyclone, PAGASA said it does not rule out the possibility that it would enhance the southwest monsoon or Habagat next week.

"'Yung current scenario na ina-anticipate natin ay posible itong kumilos sa direksyon patungong Taiwan area. Kapag nagkagan'un, kung titignan natin 'yung pattern ng mga nagdaang bagyo na patungo halos dito sa Taiwan, eastern part of the China area ay very favorable pa rin po sa pagpapaibayo ng Habagat," said Perez.

(The current scenario we are anticipating is that it could move in the direction toward the Taiwan area. If that happens, based on the pattern of previous storms heading toward Taiwan or the eastern part of China, it remains very favorable for enhancing the Habagat.)

"Hindi natin isinasantabi na posibleng next week, may panibago tayong Habagat episode," he added.

(We are not ruling out the possibility that next week, we might have another Habagat episode.)

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Neneng is expected to exit PAR later in the day.

"Itong si Bagyong Neneng ay inaasahan natin na posibleng lumabas ng northern boundary ng Philippine Area of Responsibility ngayong araw. Although minimal effect na lang sa Habagat," said Perez.

(We expect Tropical Depression Neneng to possibly exit the northern boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility today, though it will now have a minimal effect on the Habagat.)

Neneng was last monitored 450 kms north of Itbayat, Batanes. It is packing winds of 45 kph and gusts of up to 55 kph.

It is currently moving north northeast slowly.

Further, a tropical depression that was being monitored PAGASA is now outside the Tropical Cyclone Information Domain (TCID). State meteorologists are no longer keeping track of this weather disturbance. — VDV, GMA News