LPA north of Luzon intensifies into tropical depression

MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure area spotted north of Luzon has turned into a tropical depression, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Monday night.

According to Pagasa’s severe weather bulletin, Tropical Depression Helen was last spotted 240 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

It is moving at a westward motion at a speed of 25 kph, which means that it could have a brief stay within the Philippine area of responsibility before moving out by Tuesday morning.

Helen may intensify further in the next 48 hours, but it might have left the PAR by this time. The cyclone is expected to make a slight northwestward turn and may make landfall over the southern part of China’s Guandong Province.

No storm warning signals have been raised as of now.

Rains would still be experienced on the western side of the country, especially over Batanes, Ilocos Region, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga peninsula due to the southwest monsoon or Habagat.

Meanwhile, another LPA being monitored east of Mindanao was last spotted 240 kilometers east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

Despite hovering over the water, it is not expected to develop into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours.

[atm]