Typhoon Cempaka enters PAR, affects northeast monsoon — PAGASA

Typhoon Cempaka (international name) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday morning and is enhancing the northeast monsoon, which brings rains and gusty winds across the country, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

“Typhoon Cempaka entered PAR at around 8:40 a.m. and based on our projections, it will only persist at the edge of the area,” Charmagne Varilla, PAGASA weather specialist, said during the 11:00 a.m. press briefing in Filipino.

The typhoon has been given the local name Samuel, making it the country’s 19th tropical cyclone this year.

It was last located 1,370 kilometers east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon. The storm maintained its strength, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Cempaka is expected to be short-lived as it is likely to recurve and exit PAR by Monday evening or early Tuesday morning.

PAGASA has not issued any tropical cyclone wind signals due to Cempaka.

While it is not expected to directly affect or make landfall in any part of the country, Cempaka is pulling the prevailing northeast monsoon, Ms. Varilla said.

“As it continues to draw the northeast monsoon, the large coastal areas of Mindanao, most parts of Luzon, and Visayas could experience gusty winds caused by the monsoon,” Ms. Varilla said.

She added that residents, especially those in coastal and elevated areas, should remain alert.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon is expected to bring rains over Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Aurora, and Quezon in the next 24 hours, based on PAGASA’s 4:00 a.m. weather advisory.

PAGASA warned of possible flooding and landslides in the affected areas due to moderate to occasionally heavy rains.

Isolated light rains due to the northeast monsoon are expected in Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, the rest of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the rest of Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON.

No significant impacts are expected in these areas.

On average, 20 tropical cyclones develop or enter PAR annually, although the likelihood of a tropical cyclone making landfall is lower due to the prevailing very strong El Niño. — Edg Adrian A. Eva