MANILA, Philippines – A tropical depression was expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) last night or this morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.
PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said it will be named “Pedring” once it enters the PAR.
The Japan Meteorological Administration (JMA) in its website said that it intensified from a tropical depression into a tropical storm yesterday with the international name “Nesat.”
PAGASA said Nesat was located 1,040 kilometers east-northeast of the Visayas with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph), moving westnorthwest slowly.
Aurelio said it is likely to make landfall over Northern Luzon on Wednesday. He said that it may still change its track and may not hit land. “There is still a high possibility that the cyclone may change its direction because this is still too far from the country,” he said.
Aurelio said it is still too far to affect the country. Meanwhile, an Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in the country today.
Aurelio warned of widespread rains that may trigger flashfloods and landslides over the western section of Northern and Central Luzon, Eastern Visayas, and Mindanao. Metro Manila will experience light to moderate rains today due to the ITCZ. (Ellalyn B. de Vera)