MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image as of 5:32 p.m., 02 October 2012
MANILA, Philippines—The tropical depression over the West Philippine Sea that was forecast as of 10 a.m. Tuesday to enter the Philippine territory within 24 hours has intensified into a tropical storm, the state weather bureau said.
The storm, with international name Gaemi was last spotted 530 kilometers west of Northern Luzon with maximum winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of 80 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
It will be called Marce once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility. It would be the 13th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in this year.
In its advisory, Pagasa said Gaemi was expected to bring occasional light to moderate rains, at 1.5 mm to7 mm per hour over Northern Luzon, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna.
Fishing boats and other sea craft were advised not to venture out into the western seaboard of Luzon (Ilocos provinces, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Mindoro and Cavite) due to big waves generated by Gaemi.
In its weather outlook, Pagasa said Metro Manila, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon and Mimaropa region (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) will be cloudy with occasional moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms.
“Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Bicol and Eastern Visayas will have occasional light to moderate rains or thunderstorms, while the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with brief rain showers or thunderstorms,” Pagasa said.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to east will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the southwest to south over Central Luzon. Coastal waters in these areas will be moderate to rough, it said.
Originally posted at 12:02 p.m.