THE low pressure area (LPA) east of Basco, Batanes, has developed into a tropical depression and was named "Florita," said the state weather bureau Friday, June 29.
As of 4 a.m. Friday, the center of Florita was located at 945 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 60 kph.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said it will move northwest at 11 kph and is not expected to make landfall.
However, Florita will enhance the Southwest Monsoon or habagat, which will bring occasional rains over the extreme Northern Luzon this weekend, said Pagasa.
"Estimated amount of rainfall is from moderate to heavy within the 300 kilometer diameter of the tropical depression," it said.
No tropical cyclone warning signal has been raised so far. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)