A low-pressure area east of Mindanao has intensified into a tropical depression and is expected to enter the country tomorrow.
Weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said the tropical cyclone will be named “Butchoy” once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
It will be the second tropical cyclone to enter the country this year after “Ambo” a few days ago.
As of 4 a.m. yesterday, the center of the tropical depression was estimated based on all available data at 2,020 kilometers east of Mindanao with maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and moving northwest at 10 kph.
PAGASA said it is not expected to make landfall but it will intensify as it remains in the sea.
Aurelio added that one to three tropical cyclones are expected to affect the country this month.
He said that the Intertropical Convergence Zone or the thick clouds coming from the south of Asia and considered a breeding ground for low pressure areas or potential cyclones, will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over Visayas, Mindanao, Bicol, and Mimaropa.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms are expected to prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
Light to moderate winds blowing from the southwest to southeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the southwest to west over Mindanao.
Coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate. (Chito A. Chavez)
