New tropical depression spotted off Batanes

MANILA, Philippines - A tropical depression was spotted 460 kilometers west of Itbayat, Batanes, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

However, the tropical depression was not expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA said the southwest monsoon continues to prevail over most of the country, particularly its western sections, bringing light to moderate rains in Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Bulacan and adjacent provinces.

The weather bureau said Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, the Ilocos and Cordillera regions and the provinces of Zambales and Bataan will experience monsoon rains.

Metro Manila, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Mindoro and Palawan will have occasional rains. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds coming from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough, it added.

Light to moderate winds coming from the southwest will prevail over the Visayas and from the south to southwest over Mindanao with slight to moderate seas.