Sinlaku remains outside PAR; Local thunderstorms to affect country — PAGASA

The entry of Typhoon Sinlaku (international name) into the Philippine Area of Responsibility remains low, while localized thunderstorms are expected across the country on Friday, according to the state weather bureau.

Sinlaku was last located 2,420 kilometers north of Luzon, moving northward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 p.m. media briefing on Thursday.

It also maintained its typhoon category strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kph and gustiness of up to 190 kph.

“At present, we expect it to continue moving northward, away from our country,” PAGASA weather specialist Charmagne Marie B. Varilla said during the media briefing in Filipino.

“We also do not see it entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility, so it is not expected to have any impact on the country,” she added.

According to Reuters, Typhoon Sinlaku was reported to have hit the Northern Mariana Islands, home to about 45,000 people, including Saipan and Tinian, bringing destructive winds, storm surges, flooding, and widespread power and water outages.

The storm also battered Guam and several American military bases.

Meanwhile, localized thunderstorms are expected in Metro Manila and the rest of the country on Friday. PAGASA said these may bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

It warned of possible flooding and landslides.

The ridge of a high-pressure area is also expected to affect northern Luzon, which may bring cloudy skies and a low chance of rainfall in the area, Ms. Varilla said. — Edg Adrian A. Eva