Storm may enter PH tonight

MANILA, Philippines—A tropical depression near Guam is anticipated to intensify as it enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Sunday night or Monday morning.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecasters said the tropical depression, identified as “09W” by the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), is capable of developing into a typhoon while it is over the Pacific Ocean.

Forecaster Glaiza Escullar said the weather disturbance is some 2,000 kilometers east of Southern Luzon and moving west-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour.

“Based on our estimates, the tropical depression may enter the PAR on Sunday night or early Monday morning,” Escullar told the Inquirer, adding that there was a high probability it would develop into a typhoon as it inched closer to the country since it was over the ocean.

The cyclone will be named “Glenda” when it enters the PAR.

Escullar pointed out that should the tropical depression continue on its current track, it may make landfall in Northern Luzon on Wednesday.

According to data from the JTWC, tropical depression “09W” was moving west-northwest at 11 knots (20 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 30 knots (55 kph) and gusts of 40 knots (approximately 74 kph).

In Pagasa’s forecast for Sunday, the intertropical convergence zone affecting Mindanao will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms over the region and Palawan, while Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds will prevail over Luzon where coastal waters will be moderate to rough while light to moderate winds are expected over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas.

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Tropical depression to enter PH Sunday or Monday—Pagasa