PAGASA: Tropical depression outside PAR maintains strength

The tropical depression currently outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility has continued to maintain its strength while moving east northeastward, PAGASA said on Tuesday evening.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau said the tropical depression is forecast to track northeastward slowly then sharply turn northwestward on Wednesday.

It would then accelerate west northwestward throughout Thursday and Friday towards the northeastern portion of PAR.

Once it enters PAR, possibly on Thursday evening or Friday early morning, the tropical cyclone will be called “Josie.”

“This tropical cyclone may intensify into a tropical storm within 12 hours. By Thursday, improving environmental conditions will enable the tropical cyclone to intensify at a relatively faster rate. Current forecast scenario shows that this tropical cyclone will enter the PAR as a typhoon,” PAGASA said.

Habagat

While the tropical cycle is not expected to directly affect the weather conditions in the country, PAGASA said it may enhance the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat within the forecast period.

“This may bring monsoon rains over the western sections of Southern Luzon and Visayas beginning tomorrow or on Thursday. As such, the issuance of a Weather Advisory is not ruled out should heavy rains become possible or likely,” it said.

As of 10 p.m., the center of the tropical depression was spotted 1,865 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon.

It had maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 70 km/h, and central pressure of 998 hPa while moving east northeastward at 10 km/h.

It also sustained strong winds that extended outwards up to 200 km from the center.—Mel Matthew Doctor/LDF, GMA News