LPA off Batanes becomes Tropical Depression Nimfa

MANILA, Philippines — The low pressure area east of Batanes has developed into a tropical depression that is expected to dampen portions of Luzon and Visayas until the weekend.

Tropical Depression Nimfa—the 14th tropical cyclone this year—was last spotted 695 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes. The state weather bureau said it is moving almost stationary.

“Nimfa” packs maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 70 kph.

No Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal has been hoisted yet over any part of the country but the tropical depression is seen to enhance the southwest monsoon.

Residents of Central Luzon and Occidental Mindoro will experience frequent light to moderate rains with occasional heavy rainshowers during thunderstorms until Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, cloudy skies with scattered light to moderate rains and intermittent heavy rainshowers during thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas.

PAGASA warned that sea travel is risky, especially for small seacraft, over the northern and eastern seaboards of northern Luzon due to rough to very rough sea conditions. Meanwhile, most of the other seaboards of the country will remain moderate to rough.

“Nimfa” may intensify into a tropical storm within 72 hours.

Shallow LPA

PAGASA said the shallow LPA it is also monitoring may hit the western coast of Central Luzon in the next 48 hours and may eventually dissipate within the circulation of “Nimfa.”

The weather disturbance was last spotted 95 km west of Iba, Zambales.

Forecast positions of “Nimfa”

• Wednesday afternoon: 585 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes
• Thursday afternoon: 285 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes
• Friday afternoon: 515 km northeast of Basco, Batanes
• Saturday afternoon: 695 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)
• Sunday afternoon: 925 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes

— Gaea Katreena Cabico