MANILA -- As typhoon “Julian” (international codename Bolaven) continues to move away from the country, typhoon "Igme" (Tembin) is expected re-enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility within the next 24-48 hours, the state weather bureau said yesterday afternoon.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that based on satellite and surface data as of 4 p.m. Sunday, typhoon Igme was located at 490 km West of Basco, Batanes (20.8°:N, 116.9°E) with maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph. It is forecast to move South Southeast at 7 kph.

Weather Forecaster Connie Dadivas said "Igme" is expected to only pass near extreme Northern Luzon and is not likely to make landfall in any part of the country.

However, she said the typhoon will enhance anew the southwest monsoon, which would bring light to moderate passing rains in Metro Manila and Luzon, particularly over the western sections of Northern and Central Luzon, while it remains inside the Philippine territory.

Once “Igme” re-enters the Philippine territory, said that it is expected to stay inside the PAR “within 24 hours.”

Dadivas said the rest of the country is expected to have good weather conditions in the next two days, predicting partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies with isolated rains in these areas due to localized thunderstorms.

Earlier, PAGASA said that “Igme,” which left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Friday afternoon, is expected to turn back to the country by Monday or Tuesday as an offshoot of the “Fujiwhara effect,” or the interaction between two nearby cyclones, where the stronger one may “pull” the weaker one.

With the “Fujiwhara effect,” PAGASA said Igme will likely follow the movement of Julian.

The phenomenon starts when two weather disturbances come within 1,000 to 1,500 kilometers of each other and the “Fujiwhara effect” usually ends when one of the two storms weakens or its “movement” is disrupted by another stronger weather system, the weather agency said.

In its 5 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said that Northern and Central Luzon will experience occasional rains becoming frequent over Northern Luzon which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and from the south to southwest over Mindanao.

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.*PNA

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