The low-pressure area (LPA) west of Babuyan Islands has developed into tropical depression and was named “Emong.”
In its 11:00 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said “Emong” packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 55 kph. It was located 115 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, moving west southwestward at 35 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is hoisted in Ilocos Norte, the western portion of Ilocos Sur, the northwestern portion of La Union, and the western portion of Pangasinan. Strong winds will prevail in those areas.
Heavy rains are forecast in Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, and Apayao.
Emong could possibly make landfall over Ilocos Region, Babuyan Islands, and/or Batanes, especially if there are eastward shifts in the track forecast, according to the weather bureau.
Meanwhile, “Dante” has intensified into a tropical storm, but no storm signal was hoisted over any part of the country.
Dante now packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
As of 10:00 a.m., Dante was located 900 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon.
The cyclone is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday, July 24.
Pagasa, meanwhile, said both “Emong” and “Dante” are enhancing the southwest monsoon, which will bring strong to gale-force gusts across Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Aurora, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Mimaropa, the Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental.
The southwest monsoon will also cause heavy rainfall over Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Antique, Iloilo, Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro, Pagasa said. (PNA)