LPA off Mindanao now a storm; Signal No. 1 up in 4 provinces

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 5:01 p.m., 18 February 2013

MANILA, Philippines—The low pressure area being monitored in Mindanao by the state weather bureau has intensified into a tropical depression and was named “Crising.”

Crising was last spotted 750 kilometers east of General Santos City with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said in its bulletin Monday afternoon.

It is forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph.

Public storm warning signal number 1 has been raised over Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley.

Eastern Visayas and the regions of Caraga, Davao and Soccsksargen will experience cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides, Pagasa said.

Meanwhile Bicol Region and the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers or thunderstorms. Cagayan Valley and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will be cloudy with light rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over northern Luzon and coming from the northeast over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.