Tropical Cyclone Domeng, which was recently downgraded to a tropical depression, may pass near Metro Manila, according to the latest forecast.
The forecast from the US Navy and Air Force’s Joint Typhoon Watch Center shows Domeng veering northwest and into the southern Tagalog region--and possibly Metro Manila--after hitting the Visayas.
However, the center noted that Domeng has been moving erratically and may change direction again.
“Due to the uncertainty in the initial position as well as major track and track speed differences among the dynamic models, there is low confidence in the JTWC track forecast,” it said.
(JTWC)
The storm has had winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and is forecast to move northwest at 5 kilometers per hour, the Philippines agency PAGASA said in a Wednesday morning alert.
Its forecast was: “Caraga and Central and Eastern Visayas will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.”
Pagasa weather forecaster Manny Mendoza added to Interaksyon that no storm signals have been raised as of Wednesday morning, but cloudy skies with scattered light rain showers and isolated thunderstorms are still expected over Caraga and Central and Eastern Visayas due to Domeng.
The high pressure area ridge is blocking the storm for now, preventing it from moving freely.
“If it moves up, it would bring rains to Northern and Central Luzon and help fill river basins and dams in Luzon,” he said.
The storm is expected to make landfall over Samar provinces late Friday or Saturday.
