Enter the Enteng: PH's 5th storm barely felt as it enters, exits country

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical storm 'Enteng,' the fifth storm to visit the country this year, was barely felt when it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility Monday evening before heading out to Japan four hours later, the state weather bureau said.  

According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Enteng (international name "Khanun"), which had been hovering over the Pacific Ocean for several days, passed through the north-eastern side of the PAR line at around 8 pm on Monday.

But since it was too far away, it didn't directly affect the country's weather.  The first few storms that visit the country often skip land but enhance the southwest monsoon that brings widespread rains over the western side of the country.

Based on Pagasa's 5 am update, the the storm was spotted at 2 am at 1,100 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes. It packed maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It picked up speed from 19 kph yesterday to 30 kph early Tuesday.  

Despite the exit of Enteng, the western section of the country will still experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rains due to the weak southwest monsoon or Habagat.

Pagasa said the country could expect 19 storms this year, two of which may enter this month. With a report from Beverly Verdera, Aksyon Weather Center

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