Pilandok intensifies into tropical storm; direct impact on PHL seen limited

Pilandok (international name “Krovanh”) intensified into a tropical storm on Tuesday morning, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). In its 11 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said Pilandok was located 1,060 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon. Despite its intensification, no tropical cyclone wind signal was in effect. Pilandok was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h. It was moving “almost stationary,” the state weather bureau said. The tropical cyclone is forecast to move slowly east-northeastward over the next 24 hours and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. “This tropical cyclone is less likely to make landfall over the country and will remain far from the Philippine landmass,” PAGASA said. However, the state weather bureau warned of possible effects from the prevailing Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. The Southwest Monsoon is expected to bring gale-force gusts over most of Luzon and Visayas, as well as Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental from Tuesday to Thursday. In a separate advisory, PAGASA said it was also monitoring Tropical Storm Saudel (formerly “Obet”) outside the PAR. Another tropical depression being monitored outside the PAR has weakened into a low-pressure area (LPA) and is not expected to re-intensify. However, PAGASA said another LPA outside the PAR has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours. It was located 2,975 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon.— MCG, GMA News