The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that one of the two tropical depressions being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has strengthened into a tropical storm, named Saudel.
As of 2:00 PM on August 19 (Philippines time), the center of Typhoon Saudel was determined to be about 3,005km east of Mindanao. The typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h, gusts up to 90 km/h and is almost standing still.
With the current intensity, Saudel has reached tropical storm level. However, at the time PAGASA announced the information, this system was still very far from the mainland Philippines and had not entered PAR.
PAGASA is also monitoring another tropical depression outside PAR, about 890km west of the northernmost part of Luzon Island.
Meanwhile, tropical depression Neneng was recorded about 430km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes province. This system has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center, gusts up to 55 km/h and moves in a west-northwest direction at a speed of 35 km/h.
According to the 24-hour weather forecast broadcast by PAGASA at 4:00 PM on August 19, the southwest monsoon (Habagat) continues to affect many areas on August 20.
Rain due to monsoon is forecast to occur in Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro. In Manila and the Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas and Oriental Mindoro areas, the southwest monsoon (Habagat) may cause scattered rain.
The remaining areas of Luzon along with Antique and Aklan are forecast to be cloudy, with scattered rain and thunderstorms.
In Mindanao and the remaining areas of the Visayas, localized thunderstorms may cause cloudy skies at times, accompanied by showers or thunderstorms.
At the time PAGASA announced it, Typhoon Saudel was still far east of the Philippines.
PAGASA said it continues to monitor the developments of Typhoon Saudel, tropical depression Neneng and other weather systems. People are advised to follow the meteorological agency's updates to grasp changes in intensity and weather developments.
