new typhoon are about to enter Philippine area of responsibilities

If it stays on its course, a new cyclone heading for the Philippines may make landfall on Saturday night, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Tuesday.

Pagasa head Prisco Nilo said the cyclone, to be code-named "Santi" once it enters Philippine territory, will make itself felt as early Friday night.

"Ito ay maaring tatama sa kalupaan mga bandang Saturday evening ... Nasa dagat pa ito, malayo pa sa lupa, malaki ang posibilidad nito na lalakas bago tumama ng kalupaan (It may make landfall Saturday evening. But it is still at sea and far from land. The chances are, it will gain strength before making landfall)," Nilo said in an interview on dzXL radio.

Citing data they have gathered so far, Nilo said the cyclone is due to enter Philippine territory Thursday evening, and bring rains and winds Friday evening.

But he admitted there is little chance the cyclone will go the way of "Ramil" (Lupit) that skipped the country.

In a separate interview, Pagasa forecaster Elvie Enriquez said the cyclone will likely affect Eastern Visayas.

"Kung magpapatuloy, sa Kabisayaan ang unang maapektuhan, Eastern Visayas, Samar, Leyte (Given its present heading, it will likely affect first Eastern Visayas, including Samar and Leyte)," she said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Enriquez also said that after "Santi," at least four more cyclones are expected to enter Philippine territory.

"Dalawa sa Nobyembre, isa na lang ngayon, isa sa Disyembre, so apat pa, base sa nakaraan (Based on weather patterns in the past years, we expect two cyclones to enter Philippine territory in November, one more in October, and one in December)," she said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in its 6 a.m. report, said the cyclone had been upgraded into a tropical storm and is moving toward Guam.

It said the cyclone was moving west-northwest at 17 mph (27.35 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (64.37 kph