Tropical depression to bring rains to Visayas

CEBU, Philippines —  The low pressure area (LPA) off Eastern Visayas has developed into a tropical depression, bringing cloudy skies to the whole of Visayas and nearby regions, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Tropical announced that the LPA already became tropical depression Emong as of 8 a.m. yesterday.

The LPA was first monitored 815 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar before developing into a tropical depression.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, Emong was spotted 790 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour, and gustiness of 55 kph, moving northwest at 25 kph.

According to PAGASA, the weather disturbance is expected to be located 530 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City at 8 a.m. today with maximum winds of 55 kph, moving northwest at 35 kph.

Emong, the country’s fifth cyclone this year, is expected to weaken by tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon and be downgraded to a low pressure area by Wednesday.

By Tuesday, July 6, Emong is expected to position 140 km west of Itbayat, Batanes with 55 kph maximum winds, moving west northwest at 30 kph.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 was raised yesterday in Luzon, specifically in Batanes and the Northeastern portion of Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands.

Meanwhile, another low pressure area was monitored in the vicinity of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro 10 a.m. yesterday but PAGASA said it was not expected to develop into a cyclone in the next 24 hours.

However, the LPA and the southwest monsoon would bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, northern Quezon, including Polillo Islands, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Palawan, including Calamian Islands, Mindoro provinces, and Antique. — Loreine Kyra Lebumfacil, JMD (FREEMAN)