The latest storm information from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on December 12 said that a potential low pressure area is developing outside the Philippine Forecast Area (PAR). This potential low pressure area is forecast to approach the Philippines in the week before Christmas.
Notably, PAGASA forecasters warn that the low pressure area has the potential to strengthen into a low to moderate tropical storm.
If it strengthens, this storm near the East Sea could affect the eastern regions of Mindanao, Visayas and Southern Luzon of the Philippines. When it strengthens into a tropical storm, the system will be named Querubin.
According to PAGASA's weather warning, heavy to very heavy rains due to wind shear will occur in Quezon province on December 12. The system will also affect the weather in Isabela, Aurora Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes in the coming days.
Manila Standard noted that PAGASA had previously forecast that a new storm could enter PAR between December 16 and 22. Based on PAGASA's latest weather analysis, the potential system is similar to a tropical depression but it is too early to determine the exact path or intensity of the system.
We expect a tropical depression near the southern part of the TCAD tropical storm warning area to form and may move towards the Visayas and Southern Luzon regions, PAGASAs forecast bulletin on December 10 noted.
Philippine weather forecasters say that rainfall from the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will continue to affect the western part of Mindanao and Palawan in the coming days.
The Philippines experiences an average of 20 tropical storms per year. In October and November this year alone, the Philippines recorded 6 typhoons, killing 171 people and leaving thousands homeless.
The storm also caused significant damage to crops and livestock in the Philippines, highlighting the country's vulnerability to severe weather conditions.
During the 2024 typhoon season, PAGASA will use a new typhoon name for tropical storms that form within or enter the Philippine forecast area. In particular, Aghon, Querubin, Romina and Upang were used for the first time to replace the names Hurricane Ambo, Quinta, rolly and Ulysses that caused severe damage in the 2020 hurricane season.
The names of typhoons in the Philippines are changed every four years, unless they are removed. PAGASA revokes or stops using the storm if it kills at least 300 people or causes major damage to economy, infrastructure, housing and other assets.
PAGASA is the only weather agency in the world that gives local names to storms. This is a practice of the Weather Department, a predecessor of PAGASA, since the 1960s in the hope of warning the public more effectively.
