MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Cempaka could enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tonight or early Monday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Weather Specialist Obet Badrina said once inside PAR, the storm will be called "Samuel."
"It will not directly affect our country, especially because it will just skirt the northeastern boundary of the PAR," Badrina said in Filipino and English.
The storm will not make landfall.
The northeast monsoon or amihan continues to affect the Philippines, particularly the north and central parts of Luzon, he said.
The easterlies "will bring cloudy skies, particularly to a large part of Visayas" and to the eastern part of Mindanao, he said.
