‘Marce’ weakens into tropical depression, exits PH

The tropical storm that triggered rains in Luzon and the Visayas over the past week weakened into a depression as it exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday.

In a weather bulletin on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 11 a.m., “Marce” (international name: Tokage) was spotted 235 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

It slowed down to 13 kilometers per hour and weakened into a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gusts of up to 55 kph.

No direct effect

Rainfall amount was still estimated to be moderate to occasionally heavy within the 300-km diameter of the tropical depression.
Pagasa noted that Marce no longer had any direct effect on any part of the country.

Marce exited the Philippine area of responsibility last night.
Pagasa expects Marce to be 510 km west-northwest of Iba, Zambales, by Tuesday morning. —JAYMEE T. GAMIL