LPA intensifies into cyclone

A low-pressure area east of the Bicol region intensified into a tropical depression yesterday and is expected to bring rains in parts of the country in the next few days, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Tropical Depression Gorio was spotted 565 kilometers east of Legazpi, Albay, packing winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph.

Gorio is forecast to move north-northwest at 15 kph in the next 24 hours.

No cyclone warning signal was raised yesterday afternoon.

PAGASA senior weather specialist Chris Perez said Gorio is not expected to make landfall in any part of the country. He said the southwest monsoon would bring rains over the western section of Luzon and the Visayas.

Gorio is forecast to move north-northwest and pass near Taiwan in the next two to three days, said Perez.

PAGASA said cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms would prevail over Metro Manila, Zambales and Bataan as well as the Ilocos, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western and Eastern Visayas and Caraga regions.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.

PAGASA said coastal waters across the country would be moderate to occasionally rough.

Gorio is the third tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this month.