THE low pressure area (LPA) east of Surigao del Norte developed into a tropical depression early Monday morning, September 6, and was named “Jolina.”

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the center of Jolina was spotted at 300 kilometers east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, or 310 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte as of 4 a.m. Monday.

The tropical depression has maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 55 km/h, and central pressure of 1006 hPa.

It was moving west southwest at 20 km/h.

Pagasa raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 1 in Eastern Samar in the Visayas, and Dinagat Islands, Siargao Islands, and Bucas Grande Islands in Mindanao.

These areas will experience moderate to heavy rains in the next 24 hours, Pagasa said.

It warned the residebts against isolated to scattered flash flooding and rain-induced landslides.

Pagasa also said that strong winds (strong breeze to near gale conditions) with occasional gusts will be experienced in areas under TCWS Number 1, and in the next 24 hours, Jolina may bring moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 2.8 meters) over the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.

“Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions,” it said in an advisory.

The weather bureau forecast Jolina to move westward or west-southwestward in the very short term before turning generally northwestward.

On the forecast track, the depression will track generally northwestward parallel to the east coast of the country until it makes landfall over Northern Luzon by Friday (September 10), it said.

Pagasa added that Jolina will likely remain a tropical depression until its potential landfall over Northern Luzon, when it is forecast to weaken into a low pressure area. (LMY)