The tropical depression east of the Philippines with the international name “Megi” has intensified into a tropical storm and is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility today.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration weather forecaster Megg Escullar said that it will be named “Helen’’ once it enters the PAR.
In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said the weather disturbance was located 1,975 kilometers east of Central Luzon with maximum winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 80 kph, moving west-northwest at 25 kph.
Despite the approaching storm, the country will have partly cloudy skies in the morning, becoming cloudy in the afternoon until evening with some isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms today.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Operations Center is now on blue alert status for the entry of Helen today. (Chito A. Chavez and Francis T. Wakefield)