Sarah weakens to tropical depression, may become LPA before exiting PAR

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Sarah weakened to a tropical depression, and could become a low-pressure area before it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR),   the state weather bureau said Saturday.

In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Sarah is expected to leave the PAR in the next six hours on Saturday.

Sarah was last spotted 700 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes.

The tropical depression also packed maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 70 kph, Pagasa said.

The state weather bureau added that Sarah was moving north slowly.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or “amihan” will bring cloudy skies with isolated rains over Aurora and Quezon province.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains is expected over the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley also due to the amihan.

Localized thunderstorms, the state weather bureau said, will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers to Metro Manila and the rest of the country.