PAGASA Tracks Tropical Depression Approaching PAR

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday is keeping watch on a tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) which has high chance to enter the country.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said the tropical depression was spotted some 2,200 km east of Luzon and expected to enter the PAR by Wednesday or Thursday.

He said once it enters the country it will be locally named “Jenny”, the 10th tropical cyclone to affect the country this year and first for this month.

Aurelio said the tropical depression will not directly affect the country and has a slim chance to make a landfall in any part of the country as it is moving west northwest.

However, Aurelio said the tropical depression will enhance the southwest monsoon that will induce rains.

For Tuesday forecast, Aurelio said that Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will bring rains in many parts of the country as he advised the public to bring umbrella or raincoats.

The ITCZ affecting Visayas and Mindanao, which is the thick clouds coming from the south of Asia, is considered a breeding ground for low-pressure areas (LPAs) or potential cyclones.

The presence of ITCZ will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms over Western Visayas, Davao region, Northern Mindanao and the provinces of Mindoro.

The rest of the country including Metro Manila will continue to experience fair weather or partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

In its advisory, PAGASA said light to moderate winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over Luzon and coming from the southwest to west over Visayas and Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

The state weather bureau did not issue a gale warning as the fisherfolk are safe to venture into the sea. (PNA) JBP/CLTC