Tropical Depression to enter PAR on Thursday, intensifies into typhoon — PAGASA

A tropical depression is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday and may intensify into a typhoon, as its trough brings rains over six areas, according to the state weather bureau on Wednesday.

“We’re monitoring a tropical cyclone and we’re expecting it to enter PAR tomorrow,” Chenel Dominguez, weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said during a 5:00 a.m. press briefing in Filipino.

It is expected to enter PAR as a tropical storm and will be given the local name Queenie.

“We’re also seeing that its highest category is typhoon category,” Ms. Dominguez also said.

The tropical depression was last located 1,920 kilometers east of Southeastern Luzon. It had maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

Its trough is causing thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas, CARAGA, Davao Oriental, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin, PAGASA said.

The bureau warned of possible flooding and landslides during severe thunderstorms in these areas.

PAGASA said that the tropical depression is also likely to enhance the southwest monsoon, but it will not cause the widespread rains that the country experienced in early September.

In Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, generally fair weather is expected, with a chance of localized thunderstorms in the afternoon. — Edg Adrian A. Eva