Tropical depression not entering PAR

Source: Project Noah | June 15, 2014, 3:32 am

MANILA, Philippines—A tropical depression has been spotted west of the Batanes island chain but it is not expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), the weather bureau said on Saturday.

As of Saturday morning, the depression was estimated at 500 kilometers west of Basco, Batanes, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

It was moving in a north-northwest direction and thus had only a slim chance of hitting the country, forecasters said.

The southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat,” continues to prevail over most of the country, particularly its western section, bringing light to moderate rain to Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Bulacan, as well as to adjacent provinces, Pagasa said.

Based on Pagasa’s 24-hour outlook, the Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan groups of islands, the regions of Ilocos and Cordillera, and the provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga and Bulacan will experience monsoon rains.

On the other hand, Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon and the provinces of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Mindoro and Palawan will experience occasional rains, Pagasa said.

The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, Pagasa said.