Tropical depression off Southern Luzon to enter PAR Sunday

MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure area outside the Philippine area of responsibility developed into a tropical depression Friday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

The tropical depression is expected to enter PAR by Sunday morning as a tropical storm. Once it enters the country’s jurisdiction, the weather disturbance will be named “Pepeng.”

It may intensify into a typhoon while inside PAR and may affect extreme northern Luzon by September 28.

As of 10 a.m., the tropical depression—with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gust of 65 kilometers per hour—was last seen 2,160 kilometers east of Southern Luzon.

It is moving north northwest at 20 kilometers per hour.

“The tropical depression is still far away to have any effect in the country,” the state weather bureau said.

It added that no significant enhancement of the southwest monsoon is expected during the outlook period.

Last week, Typhoon Ompong (international name: Mangkhut) barreled into the country. Its violent winds and heavy rains that triggered landslides left at least 95 individuals dead and affected 1,532,999 individuals.

Forecast positions and intensities

• Saturday morning: 1,735 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes (outside PAR) as tropical storm
• Sunday morning: 1,555 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon (outside PAR) as tropical storm
• Monday morning: 1,190 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan as severe tropical storm
• Tuesday morning: 835 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes as typhoon
• Wednesday morning: 645 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes as typhoon

— Gaea Katreena Cabico