‘Emong’ now a tropical storm – Pagasa

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 12:32 p.m., 18 June 2013

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical depression “Emong” has intensified into a tropical storm and has accelerated as it moved north, the weather bureau said midday Tuesday.

The storm was last plotted 460 kilometers east of Isabela, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

It was moving north at 19 kph.

Although Pagasa forecasters expect no landfall, “Emong” would bring moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms over southern Luzon, Visayas and Northern Mindanao and would enhance the southwest monsoon.

Emong is forecast to exit the Philippines by Thursday morning.

Fishermen using small boats were advised not to venture out into the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and western seaboards of southern Luzon due to big waves generated by the storm.