A LOW pressure area (LPA) east of Central Luzon intensified into a tropical storm yesterday and is expected to make landfall in Isabela or Cagayan on Sunday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA intensified into a tropical depression at 8 a.m. yesterday and was given the name “Karding.”
Karding, the 11th tropical cyclone to hit the country this year, intensified into a tropical storm six hours later, PAGASA said.
In a bulletin issued at 5 p.m. yesterday, PAGASA said Karding was some 1,320 kms east of Northern Luzon as of 4 p.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph and slowly moving north northwestward.
PAGASA said Karding will begin moving westward later yesterday.
“On the forecast track, the tropical cyclone is forecast to maintain its westward movement while accelerating until it makes landfall in (the) vicinity of the east coast of Isabela or Cagayan on Sunday,” PAGASA said.
PAGASA said Karding may continue intensifying and may reach the severe tropical storm category prior to landfall.
It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday.
“Current track and intensity forecast shows that there is a high likelihood that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) will be hoisted over Northern Luzon and some portions of Central Luzon,” PAGASA said.
It said the highest wind signal that may be raised is Signal No. 3.
“Localities situated in the eastern portions of Northern and Central Luzon may be placed under TCWS No. 1as early as Friday evening or Saturday early morning,” said PAGASA, adding Karding may bring rains in Northern and Central Luzon starting late Saturday or Sunday morning.
“Under these conditions, isolated to scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall,” PAGASA said.
PAGASA is also monitoring two weather systems outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, said weather specialist Benison Estareja.
One of them, a tropical depression, is about 1,775 kms east of extreme Northern Luzon as of yesterday morning.
Estareja said the tropical depression is not expected to affect the country as it is moving northwestward, heading towards Japan.
It is packing maximum winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
Estareja said the second weather system being monitored is an LPA that was about 2,000 kms east of Visayas as of yesterday morning.
He said the LPA will not affect the country, at least until the weekend.
