LPA now tropical depression ‘Egay,’ to pull ‘habagat’

Tropical depression ‘Egay’ (cloud cluster with red center) moves over waters off Catanduanes in this screengrab from the website of Pagasa. PAGASA WEBSITE

The low pressure are (LPA) near Catanduanes has developed into a tropical depression and was locally named “Egay.”

Egay, was last observed 520 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, Jori Loiz of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said by phone.

The cyclone packed maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center, and was moving north northwest at 5 kph.

Loiz said Egay would pull the southwest monsoon, or habagat, and dump moderate to heavy rain within its 300-km diameter.

The tropical depression is still too far to affect any part of the country, the forecaster said.

Fishermen are also advised to avoid the eastern seaboard of the Bicol and Eastern Visayan regions.

Egay could move closer towards Northern Luzon but it’s not likely to make landfall, Loiz said.

The weather bureau is also tracking a severe tropical storm and a low pressure area outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

Loiz said that Chan-hom (international name) was last located 3,090 kilometers east of Visayas, while the LPA was 2,275 kilometers east of Mindanao.