Potential new typhoon system may be developing over Pacific Ocean

April 2015 – MANILA – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) is monitoring another weather disturbance which could further intensify into a typhoon. As of Monday morning, forecast tracks showed that tropical storm “Haishen” (International name) remains almost stationary over Pacific Ocean near Micronesia. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the storm has maximum sustained winds of more than 60 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 90 kilometers per hour. Glaiza Escullar, weather forecaster of Pagasa, said Haishen may further intensify and become the fourth storm from the Pacific Ocean to reach typhoon category this year — following Mekkhala (Amang), Bavi (Betty), and Maysak (Chedeng).

She said Haishen remains too far from the country and still has a low chance of entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), but its track may still change depending on the movement of the North Pacific High Pressure System or the high pressure area near Japan. Should Haishen changes track and enters PAR, it will be named “Dodong” — the country’s fourth storm in 2015. –IA