The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration is closely monitoring a tropical depression off the Pacific Ocean that may enter the country’s area of responsibility today or tomorrow.
According to PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio, the tropical depression was estimated at 1,790 kilometers east of Luzon or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility before noon yesterday.
If it maintains its westward track, Aurelio said the tropical depression will be inside the country’s waters by tonight or tomorrow morning and will be given a local name of “Ferdie,” the second tropical cyclone this month and sixth to enter the Philippines this year.
Aurelio is not discounting the possibility of the tropical depression’s landfall over extreme Northern Luzon.
However, even if it does not hit land, he said the outer circulation of the weather disturbance will likely bring moderate to heavy rains over Northern Luzon by Wednesday. (Ellalyn B. de Vera)