Tropical storm near PAR stalls; LPA spotted east of Sorsogon

The tropical cyclone seen to enter the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday has slowed down due to another weather disturbance.

The tropical depression, which has intensified into a tropical storm with the international name Meari, has been almost stationary, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said midday Thursday.

Meari packed maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph. It was last located 1,385 kilometers east of Luzon.

Jori Loiz, Pagasa weather forecaster, said by phone that another tropical depression located 2,270 kilometers east of Luzon has been slowing down the entry of Meari to PAR.

The storm was supposed to enter PAR on Thursday but Loiz said it was now uncertain due to the other tropical depression.

A Fujiwhara effect or an interaction of the two weather disturbances is also a possibility between the two cyclones, but both will move away from PAR, Loiz said.

A low pressure area within the intertropical convergence zone was also spotted 325 kilometers east of Sorsogon City, Pagasa said.

The weather disturbance will bring cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Mimaropa, Bicol region, Eastern Visayas and the province of Quezon. CDG/rga