Lawin spotted near Catanduanes

MANILA, Philippines – An active low-pressure area spotted east-southeast of Catanduanes province in Bicol developed yesterday into a tropical depression and was named “Lawin.”

Prisco Nilo, director of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said Lawin is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon this afternoon and bring moderate to heavy rains over southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao until tomorrow.

It is the 12th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the third this month.

Nilo said Lawin is likely to intensify into a storm within the next 24 hours.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Lawin was located some 550 kilometers east-southeast of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center.

As of yesterday afternoon, Pagasa raised no storm warning signals.

The tropical cyclone is forecast to move west-northwest at 19 kph. It is expected to be at 180 kms east of Virac this afternoon, at 70 kms east of Infanta, Quezon tomorrow afternoon, and 100 kms west of Iba, Zambales by Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, another shallow low pressure area was spotted about 420 kms northwest of northern Palawan.

Nilo said the shallow low pressure area was moving away from the country, but would continue to bring rains over Palawan and Mindoro in the next few days.