Pagasa: LPA off Visayas now a tropical depression, nears PAR

MANILA, Philippines – The low-pressure area (LPA) spotted east of the Visayas has intensified into a tropical depression, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported in its 4 a.m. advisory on Wednesday.

According to Pagasa, the tropical depression will be named Marilyn once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday.

It was last spotted 1,180 kilometers east of the Visayas with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 55 kilometers per hour.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to the trough or extension of the tropical depression may prevail over Eastern Visayas, the Bicol region, Quezon and Aurora, Pagasa added.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and majority of the country may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.

Zambales and Bataan may also experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms caused by the southwest monsoon, Pagasa said.

Flashfloods and landslides are possible in affected areas, Pagasa warned. /gsg