According to storm and low pressure news from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), tropical depression LPA 09d is currently outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), about 2,970km southeast of Luzon Island.
According to PAGASA's bulletin broadcast at 8 am on September 16 (Philippines time), the tropical depression is located at about 15.0 degrees North latitude and 148.6 degrees East longitude. The system has maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center, gusts up to 70 km/h and is moving slowly in a west-northwest direction.
Meanwhile, the forecast map shows that the tropical depression is likely to continue to strengthen as it moves northwest, then turns north and moves towards the Japanese area. According to forecast milestones on the map, the system's wind speed may increase to about 72 km/h on September 17, 91 km/h on September 18 and 107 km/h on September 19-20.
By September 21, the system's wind speed could increase to about 126 km/h, while atmospheric pressure at the center will decrease to about 970 hPa, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
The above milestones are forecasts of intensity and direction of movement, not current monitoring data. Therefore, the intensity, trajectory and timing of the system reaching the above-mentioned wind levels may change in subsequent bulletins.
PAGASA also said that the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is affecting the area in the Philippines. This system is expected to cause cloudy skies, scattered showers and thunderstorms in the Negros Islands, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Masbate, Lanao del Sur and Davao Oriental.
The remaining areas of Visayas and Mindanao are forecast to be cloudy, with showers or localized thunderstorms due to the impact of ITCZ. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon may experience showers or localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA recommends that people regularly update on the developments of the low pressure and the latest weather information.
