The low pressure area being monitored east of Aurora has already developed into Tropical Depression “Dante,” according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday.
“At 2:00 PM today, the Low Pressure Area east of Aurora developed into Tropical Depression #DantePH,” PAGASA said in a Facebook post.
In its 4:00 p.m. advisory, the agency reported that Dante was seen 1,120 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gusts of up to 55 km/h. It is moving north-northwestward at 20 km/h.
PAGASA has not yet raised any wind signals, but it said it will begin issuing tropical cyclone advisories starting at 5:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, PAGASA senior weather specialist Rosalie C. Pagulayan said in a phone interview earlier Tuesday that these LPAs or tropical cyclones are likely to strengthen the prevailing Southwest Monsoon, which has been bringing heavy rains over the past few days.
“Kasi pag meron tayong bagyo… nahahatak ang Southwest Monsoon [When we have a tropical cyclone, it pulls the Southwest Monsoon,” Ms. Pagulayan said.
“Ito po yung nagbigay sa atin ng paulan dito sa western section [This is what brought us rain in the western section], which also includes Metro Manila,” she added.
Apart from Tropical Depression Dante, PAGASA is also monitoring two other low-pressure areas, both of which have a ‘medium’ chance of developing into tropical depressions.
The nearer LPA was spotted 170 kilometers east-southeast of Basco, Batanes.
The other LPA, located outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), was seen 2,705 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas.
Ms. Pagulayan said that PAGASA will issue updated tropical cyclone bulletins and rainfall advisories from time to time to guide the public.’
“Manatiling nakaantabay sa mga warnings at sa mga impormasyon na ibinibigay ng PAGASA [Stay alert for warnings and information from PAGASA],” Ms. Pagulayan said. – Edg Adrian A. Eva