Karen now a tropical storm as new LPA brewing off Batanes

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image as of 5:32 p.m.

MANILA, Philippines – A new shallow low pressure area was spotted near Bataan as tropical depression Karen has intensified into a tropical storm, the state weather bureau said Tuesday.

Karen was last spotted 800 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It is forecast to move north at 11 kilometers per hour, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Meanwhile, the shallow low pressure area was seen estimated at 170 km west of Bataan.

Occasional moderate to heavy rains will be experienced over Ilocos Region, Palawan, Eastern Visayas and Caraga region which may trigger flashfloods and landslides, Pagasa said.

The rest of the country will have scattered light to moderate rains.

In Metro Manila, it will be mostly cloudy with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds blowing from the southwest and Manila Bay will be slight to moderate, Pagasa said.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to west will prevail over Visayas and Mindanao with moderate to rough seas. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest to southeast and the coastal waters along these areas will be slight to moderate.