MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Tropical depression "Cosme" maintained its strength, as it remained "almost stationary" off the western coast of
Luzon late Thursday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

The storm, and a low pressure area off the eastern coast of Luzon, will enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains to Luzon and the
Western Visayas, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.

At 10 a.m., "Cosme" was located 390 kilometers west of Calapan City,
Oriental Mindoro province, while the low pressure area was located 200 kilometers east northeast of Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province,
PAGASA said.

Wide sections of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will continue to experience rainshowers until the weekend, when the tropical depression exits the country's area of responsibility through Batanes, according to Nathaniel Cruz, PAGASA weather branch chief.

"There is a possibility that [Cosme] will make a landfall and the active low pressure area develop into a storm," Cruz told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

The active LPA, however, was sighted to be moving north east away from the Philippines.

The storm, which packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center, was moving north at seven kilometers per hour.

It is expected to be at 260 kilometers southwest of Iba town, Zambales province by Friday morning, 220 kilometers southwest of Vigan
City, in Ilocos Sur province Saturday morning, and 70 kilometers northeast of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte province by Sunday morning.

No public storm signals were raised but residents of low lying areas and mountain slopes were advised against possible flashfloods and landslides.