THE trough of Tropical Depression (TD) Pepito is expected to bring rains over some parts of the archipelago, the weather bureau said on Monday.
In its latest weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Pepito was last tracked 820 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, moving west-northwestward at 20 kms per hour. It packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains may be experienced over Quezon, the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, the Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani.
PAGASA said flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in these areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall, especially in areas highly susceptible to these hazards.
Pepito is forecast to remain as a tropical depression over the next 36 hours and may make landfall either as a TD or a weak tropical storm. It may further intensify over the West Philippine Sea and may reach the severe tropical storm category by Friday, according to PAGASA.
Meanwhile, no tropical cyclone wind signal was raised over any part of the country.
However, the northeasterly surface wind flow partly enhanced by Pepito may bring strong force to near gale force winds with occasional gusts over Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, and the coastal and mountainous areas of northern Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Northern Samar
Gale warning is in effect over the seaboards of Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Isabela due to rough to very rough seas.
Moderate to rough seas will be experienced over the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon and the Bicol Region, and the seaboards of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar, PAGASA said. Philippine News Agency
