Typhoon Yutu may follow Ompong's track goal PAGASA says it may shift direction »Manila Newsletter News

By Ellalyn From Vera-Ruiz

Typhoon "Yutu" (international name) may have followed the same track as the destructive typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut), which made landfall over Cagayan province last month, the state weather bureau said on Thursday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Yutu, Cagayan province on Tuesday or Wednesday (Oct. 30 or 31).

"Yutu may follow the same track as Typhoon Ompong," PAGASA weather specialist Gener Quitlong said.

Ompong is considered to be one of the most powerful and deadliest typhoons that hit the Philippines in recent years, as it had triggered fatal landslides in a mining community in Benguet last month.

Meanwhile, Yutu is seeing a lot more than a few days ago (October 25), with at least 220 kilometers per hour (kph) of maximum sustained winds.

Yutu was already considered a great typhoon.

However, PAGASA still considers Yutu has typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 210 kph and gustiness of up to 260 kph as of mid-Thursday

Quitlong said Yutu continues to move west-northwest to the Philippine area of ​​responsibility (PAR).

The strong cyclone was last spotted at 2,380 kilometers east of Central Luzon on Thursday. Once inside the PAR, Yutu will be locally called "Rosita."

PAGASA pointed out that tropical cyclone warning signals may be raised over Isabela and Cagayan provinces as early as Monday morning.

However, PAGASA is not discounting the possibility that Yutu may still shift into a different direction.

Quitlong also said Yutu may well gradually weaken as it approaches Northern Luzon next week to the northeast monsoon or amihan.

Yutu, however, is still too much to be had over the country this weekend.

Quitlong said the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will take place in Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience some cloudy to cloudy skies.

PAGASA warned the public of sudden heavy rains due to severe thunderstorms that may cause flash floods or landslides over low-lying or mountainous areas. (Ellalyn from Vera-Ruiz)