'Inday' strengthens, may become tropical storm in 24 hours

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Inday intensified further as the state weather bureau warned on Wednesday that the weather system could become a tropical storm within the next 24 hours.

PAGASA said in a televised press briefing that "Inday" packs winds of 60 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of 75 kph.

It said that as of 3 p.m. "Inday" was spotted 755 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes.

It said the tropical depression would continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, which would bring moderate to heavy rains over Luzon.

"Inday may intensify into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours," the state weather bureau said.

"Inday" would continue to bring rains until Sunday.

The weather, however, is expected to improve by Monday, the day President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his annual State of the Nation Address.

PAGASA said that Visayas and Mindanao would have good weather with localized thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening during the next 24 hours.

It said that barring any change in the speed and direction of "Inday" it would leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Saturday morning.

The weather agency also raised gale warnings in waters off the seaboards of Isabela, Aurora, Zambales and Bataan where seas were expected to be rough to very rough.

PAGASA said that such sea conditions were risky for fishermen and small vessels.

It also raised the heavy rainfall warning for Northern Zambales, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, where 7.5 to 15 millimeters of rain is possible in the next three hours.

PAGASA said that the southwest monsoon is expected to bring intermittent moderate to occasionally heavy rains in the Ilocos Region, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Zambales and Bataan.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon meanwhile will continue to experience scattered rainshowers to moderate to at times heavy rains.