THE low pressure area (LPA) that was spotted west of Zambales has developed into a tropical depression and has been named “Caloy,” the third cyclone to enter the Philippine territory this year.
As of 4 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, the center of the tropical depression was located at 395 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales, packing maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour (km/h), gusts of up to 55 km/h, and central pressure of 1000 hPa.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Caloy has continued to move slowly over the West Philippine Sea.
No Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal has been raised as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, but Pagasa warned the public against heavy rains, saying the monsoon trough and the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Caloy will bring monsoon rains over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas in the next 24 hours.
It added that the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by the tropical depression will bring occasionally gusty conditions reaching strong breeze to near gale in strength over extreme northern Luzon, and the western sections of Luzon and Visayas.
These conditions are more likely in coastal and mountainous/upland localities of these areas, said Pagasa.
The weather bureau also warned of moderate to rough seas that Caloy and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon will bring over the seaboards of northern Luzon and the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.
“These conditions may be risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” Pagasa said in its advisory.
Based on its forecast, Caloy is expected to meander aimlessly Wednesday, June 29, then move generally north northwestward or northwestward on Thursday, June 30, westward on Friday, July 1, then turn northwestward for the remainder of the forecast period toward southern China.
Caloy may exit the Philippine area of responsibility within 24 hours.
Pagasa said Caloy was forecast to remain a tropical depression in the next 48 hours, then slightly intensify and reach tropical storm category by Friday afternoon, July 1. (SunStar Philippines)