Weather satellite image from Pagasa
MANILA, Philippines — A brewing storm may bring a rainy Christmas Day in the Eastern Visayas and Caraga Region, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Saturday.
In its 4 p.m. weather bulletin, Pagasa said a tropical depression that was last spotted 1,810 kilometers east of Mindanao may enter the Philippines and develop into a severe tropical storm by the evening of Sunday, December 22, or morning of Monday, December 23.
Based on the latest monitoring of Pagasa, the tropical depression was moving west-northwest at 10 kilometers per hour (kph) and packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center as well as gustiness of up to 70 kph.
According to the state weather bureau’s projection, the tropical depression – which will be named “Ursula” once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility – might make landfall in Eastern Visayas or Caraga on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Ursula will be the 21st tropical cyclone and possibly the last for 2019.
Meanwhile, Pagasa said it is also monitoring a low-pressure area (LPA) spotted 280 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, as of Saturday afternoon.
The LPA is already affecting the Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Davao Region, bringing light to moderate to at times heavy rains, Pagasa noted.
However, the said weather disturbance has a low chance of becoming a tropical cyclone, Pagasa said.