Tropical depression ‘Jolina’ brewing

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 3 a.m., 31 July 2013

MANILA, Philippines—A low-pressure area over the West Philippine Sea has developed into a tropical depression, the weather bureau said Tuesday.

The weather disturbance was given the local name “Jolina.”

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the depression was observed at 240 kilometers west-southwest of Subic, Zambales, as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Jolina, the 10th tropical cyclone to hit the country in 2013, was packing peak winds of 55 kilometers per hour, and was predicted to move west northwest at 11 kph, Pagasa said.

Moderate to heavy rains (falling at a rate of 5-15 millimeters per hour) are expected within the depression’s 300-kilometer diameter, the weather bureau said.

It is seen to enhance the southwest monsoon, which means it will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over the Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) region and the Western Visayas.

“Residents in these areas are advised to take all the necessary precautionary measures,” Pagasa said in an advisory.

Pagasa forecaster Alvin Pura said he expected weather conditions to improve by Thursday or Friday.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms, Pagasa said.

Moderate to occasionally strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Palawan, the Visayas and Mindanao. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to occasionally rough, the weather bureau said.