LPA near Ilocos Sur intensifies into tropical depression ‘Josie’

The low pressure area (LPA) spotted near Ilocos Sur has intensified into tropical depression “Josie” on Saturday morning, the state weather bureau said.

Josie is the 10th tropical depression for the year and the fourth for the month of July. The tropical depression was spotted at 195 kilometers west northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Josie has maximum winds of up to 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 60 (kph), with a slow movement going northeast.

Pagasa also raised tropical cyclone warning number one over the following provinces due to the threat of Josie:

Batanes

Northern Cagayan

Babuyan Group of Islands

Ilocos Norte

Northern portion of Ilocos Sur

Apayao

Northern portion of Abra

Pagasa also said scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains will be experienced by residents in the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Zambales, Tarlac and in Nueva Ecija.

The state weather bureau also warned the public living near river channels, in low-lying and in mountainous areas, to take extra caution and coordinate with their local disaster risk reduction and management units for possible flooding and landslides.

Pagasa added that sea travel over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Central Luzon would be risky.

Josie is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday morning, said Pagasa. /muf