The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued warning of tropical storm No. 1 at 5 pm on September 22 (Philippines time), stating that the low pressure area in the east-southeast of Luzon, coded LPA 09g, has strengthened into a tropical depression.
The center of the tropical depression was determined at 16:00 at 13.5 degrees North latitude and 141.5 degrees East longitude, about 1,870km east-southeast of Luzon and still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
The system has maximum winds of 45 km/h near the center, gusts of up to 55 km/h, central pressure of 1,004 hPa. The low pressure is moving north at a speed of 15 km/h. Strong winds affect within a range of about 200km from the center.
According to PAGASA, in the next 3 days, the tropical depression is expected to move mainly in a west-northwest direction and may enter PAR on the morning of September 24. When entering this area, the system will be named Queenie locally.
After entering PAR, the tropical depression is forecast to shift direction mainly to the northwest when operating near the northernmost part of Luzon.
Notably, PAGASA believes the system may strengthen into a tropical storm before entering PAR and reaching typhoon level by the weekend. After a 5-day forecast period, the system is still likely to continue to strengthen.
However, in the next 3 days, this tropical depression is forecast not to directly affect the weather and sea conditions in the Philippines and surrounding areas.
PAGASA recommends that people and disaster risk management agencies continue to monitor new updates on the developments of the system.
