Tropical depression to intensify, enter PAR on Thursday — Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — The tropical depression (TD) off Southeastern Luzon may intensify as it enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Thursday morning, Sept. 24, the state weather bureau said. 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported in its 5 p.m. weather advisory that the TD is likely to enter the PAR on Thursday at around 8 a.m. and will be named ‘Queenie’.

It is also expected to intensify into a Tropical Storm and reach Typhoon category on Saturday, according to Pagasa.

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READ: Tropical depression to enter PAR Thursday; may enhance habagat

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As of 3 p.m., the weather disturbance was located 1,810 kilometers (km) east of Southeastern Luzon while moving generally north northwestward at 15 km per hour. 

It packs maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km per hour, the weather bureau reported.

Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja said that its landfall scenario over Extreme Northern Luzon remains unlikely.

“Hindi pa rin natin iru-rule out na magla-landfall ito dito sa may extreme northern zone given na nasa loob pa rin ito ng cone of probability,” he said.

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(“We still cannot rule out the possibility of it making landfall in the extreme northern zone, given that it remains within the cone of probability,”)

Although, it may still affect Batanes and the eastern portions of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Estareja added.

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“However, kung hindi man ito mag-landfall inaasahan nga po na sa araw na Linggo o Lunes, ay mararamdaman yung may kalakasang hangin at mga pag-ulan lalo na dito sa may Batanes at eastern portion ng Cagayan kabilang na ang Babuyan Islands,” he explained.

(“However, even if it does not make landfall, strong winds and rains are expected to be felt by Sunday or Monday, particularly in Batanes and the eastern portion of Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands,”) /mr