A low pressure area outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has strengthened into a tropical depression at 8 am on March 10, according to information from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
When reaching tropical storm intensity, this system will be internationally named according to regulations.
According to Pagasa, the center of the tropical depression is located about 1,305 km east of Eastern Visayas, with sustained winds of about 45 km/h, gusting up to 55 km/h.
The tropical depression is moving northeast at a speed of about 10 km/h and is assessed as unlikely to enter PAR.
However, the trough of the low pressure area continues to affect the weather in the central and southern Philippines.
Weather forecast for many places in Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao may have scattered showers and thunderstorms, with locally moderate to heavy rain at times.
Meteorological experts predict that the impact of the low pressure trough may gradually decrease from March 12, when rain will mainly appear in the eastern Visayas and Mindanao regions.
In addition, cold air is still active in Metro Manila and most of Luzon Island, causing scattered light rain in Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Quezon and many areas in the Bicol region.
In Metro Manila and other areas of Luzon, the weather is generally quite stable, interspersed with light localized rain.
When visiting the beach, climbing mountains or trekking, tourists should bring light raincoats, avoid sheltering under tall trees and leave the coastal area when there is a strong thunderstorm.
In the coming days, city tours, museums, local cuisine or cultural experiences will be safer and more stable than island tours or offshore activities.
According to Pagasa, the current cold air mass may weaken from midweek, but a stronger-than-expected cold air mass will appear from March 14, likely to affect Visayas and northern Mindanao by the weekend.
Meanwhile, Vietnam's sea weather is being affected by increased cold air, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
In the Gulf of Tonkin, Northeast wind is strong at level 6, gusts at level 7-8, rough seas, waves 2.0-3.0m high; from night 10. 3 winds gradually decrease. The North East Sea area (including Hoang Sa special zone) has strong Northeast wind at level 6, especially the northeastern sea area sometimes at level 7, gusts at level 8-9, waves 3.0-5.0m high, rough seas.
The sea area from South Quang Tri to Dak Lak and the Central East Sea area will have strong Northeast winds of level 5, sometimes level 6, gusts of level 7-8, rough seas, sea waves 3.0-5.0m high. The area from Khanh Hoa to Vinh Long will have strong winds of level 6, sometimes level 7, gusts of level 8-9, strong rough seas, sea waves 2.0-4.0m high.
Strong winds and big waves at sea are likely to affect the operation of ships and other activities.
