A tropical depression is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Sunday night or early Monday morning, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
PAGASA forecasters said the tropical depression, identified as “09W” by the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), is capable of developing into a typhoon while it is over the Pacific Ocean.
The cyclone will be named “Glenda” when it enters the PAR.
Forecaster Glaiza Escullar said the weather disturbance is some 2,000 kilometers east of Southern Luzon and moving west-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour.
She said:
“Based on our estimates, the tropical depression may enter the PAR on Sunday night or early Monday morning,”
She added that there was a high probability it would develop into a typhoon as it inched closer to the country since it was over the ocean.
Escullar pointed out that should the tropical depression continue on its current track, it may make landfall in Northern Luzon on Wednesday.
According to data from the JTWC, tropical depression “09W” was moving west-northwest at 11 knots (20 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 30 knots (55 kph) and gusts of 40 knots (approximately 74 kph).--Source: Inquirer