Storm Karen nears RP

MANILA, Philippines – A tropical depression north of Guam is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility today and bring rains over the western section of the country in the coming days, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

Prisco Nilo, director of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said the tropical depression, to be given the local name “Karen” once it enters PAR, is located some 1,600 kilometers east of Luzon as of yesterday afternoon.

Nilo said Karen is expected to intensify into a tropical storm today.

“Karen is forecast to move to Batanes-Taiwan area. It will enhance the southwest monsoon (hanging habagat) starting Thursday,” Nilo told The STAR in a phone interview.

He said Karen is expected to dump rains over Visayas and Mindanao by Wednesday.

By Thursday, Karen would also bring rains over Luzon, particularly the western section, until Sunday, he said.

Karen would be the 11th tropical cyclone to enter the Philippines this year and the second for this month.

Nilo had said about 22 typhoons are expected to enter the Philippine territory this year.