MANILA, Philippines - The active low pressure area (ALPA) east of the country was named "Dindo" after intensifying into a tropical depression yesterday afternoon and moved in the direction of the northern tip of Luzon, state weather forecasters said.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Glaiza Escullar said the ALPA developed into a tropical cyclone around 4 p.m.
It was estimated, based on satellite and surface data, at 670 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and moving west-northwest at 19 kph.
"Considering this present track, Dindo is moving closer to the Batanes Group of Islands and may directly affect the area Friday," Escullar explained.
She said rains will continue to affect Metro Manila, Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao due to the southwest monsoon.
"Intermittent rains are expected especially at dawn, afternoon, and evening," she added.
Escullar cited that PAGASA may raise public storm warning signals in areas that will be directly affected by the weather disturbance by Wednesday of Thursday.
"Visayas and Mindanao will experience occasional rains becoming frequent over the western sections, while Southern Luzon will have cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rain showers and thunderstorms, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," she said.
Meanwhile, the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
"Dindo" is expected to be at 520 km East of Casiguran, Aurora by Wednesday afternoon and at 320 km east of Aparri, Cagayan or 320 km southeast of Basco, Batanes by Thursday afternoon.
By Friday afternoon, it is expected to be at 80 km north-northeast of Basco, Batanes
