Thunderstorms to hit metro as LPA intensifies into 'Odette'

MANILA, Philippines - The Low Pressure Area spotted east of Aurora province has intensified into a Tropical Depression Odette," state weather bureau PAGASA said Monday afternoon.

The agency said while Odette will not yet affect any part of the country, it will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon or "Habagat" which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Occidental Mindoro.

As of 4 p.m., "Odette" was located at 930 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora and is packed with maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour.

The new cyclone is forecast to move west northwest at seven kph. It is expected to be at 830 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City by Tuesday afternoon.

Moderate to heavy rainfall (five to 10 millimeters per hour) is expected within the 300-kilometer diameter of the tropical depression.

PAGASA said in its Twitter account before 6 p.m. that light to moderate rainfall is affecting portions of Cavite, Bataan and Laguna and may persist within two hours.

Light to occasionally heavy rainfall is also affecting portions of Metro Manila, Cavite, Zambales, Tarlac, and Bulacan and may also persist within two hours.