LPA develops into Tropical Depression Obet

MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure area (LPA) developed into Tropical Depression Obet inside the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday, according to the state weather bureau.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Obet is currently 1,045 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 55 kilometers per hour.

“Kaninang alas dos ng umaga, ang low pressure area na ating mino-monitor sa silangang bahagi ng Luzon ay naging isang ganap na bagyo at binigyan natin na lokal name na Obet,” said Pagasa weather forecaster Daniel James Villamil in the bureau’s morning weather forecast.

(As of 2 a.m., the low pressure area that we are monitoring east of Luzon has become a tropical depression, which will be given the local name of Obet).

According to Villamil’s forecast, Obet has no direct impact in the country on Wednesday, but it will intensify as it nears northern Luzon landmass by Friday evening or Saturday morning.

Pagasa may hoist up to Signal No. 2 in areas in northern Luzon due to Obet.

At present, the shearline is affecting northern Luzon including Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte and Apayao, and it will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers, said Pagasa.

Meanwhile, the southwesterly surface windflow will cause overcast skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms in eastern Visayas.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers in the afternoon or the evening due to the southwesterly surface windflower or localized thunderstorms, said Pagasa.

Gale warnings have been raised in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan due to the northeasterly surface windflow. Fisherfolks and sailors are advised not to go out to sea, said Pagasa.

Areas affected by heavy rains or severe thunderstorms are cautioned by Pagasa of possible landslides or flash floods.

Pagasa listed these temperature ranges in the following cities and areas for Wednesday:

• Metro Manila — 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Baguio — 17 to 23  degrees Celsius
• Laoag — 25 to 31 degrees Celsius
• Tuguegarao — 24 to 31 degrees Celsius
• Legazpi — 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Puerto Princesa — 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Tagaytay — 23 to 31 degrees Celsius
• Kalayaan Islands — 26 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Iloilo — 24 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Cebu — 24 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Tacloban — 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Cagayan de Oro — 24 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Zamboanga — 24 to 33 degrees Celsius
• Davao — 25 to 33 degrees Celsius

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