A LOW pressure area outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) intensified yesterday into a tropical depression, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
The tropical depression may enter PAR either on Wednesday or Thursday and will be named “Kabayan,” the country’s 11th cyclone for the year.
As of 10 a.m yesterday, the tropical depression was some 1,540 km east of southeastern Mindanao and moving eastward at 20 kph. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
The tropical depression is forecast to further intensify and reach the typhoon category on Saturday when it is expected to be in the area of Pinanag-an in Eastern Samar.
“Current track and intensity forecast shows that there is a high likelihood that tropical cyclone wind signals will be hoisted over the eastern portions of Visayas and Mindanao,” PAGASA said without saying when wind signals will be raised.
PAGASA said the passage of the tropical cyclone over the Eastern Visayas
“may bring heavy rainfall over several provinces in the Visayas, Mindanao, and Bicol region beginning Friday.”
It may also bring “rough to very rough seas” in the eastern seaboards of southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao starting on Thursday.
“Such condition may be risky for those using small seacraft,” PAGASA also said.
