The latest storm and low pressure information from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the low pressure formed in eastern Mindanao early on November 23 has now entered the Philippine Forecast Area (PAR).
The new low pressure near the Philippines is currently 845km east of northeast Mindanao and is likely to strengthen into a storm or tropical depression in the next 24 hours.
When it strengthens, the system will be named Verbena - a flowering plant species.
Initial forecasts from the Philippine weather agency show that storm Verbena may make landfall in the Caraga area on the evening of November 24.
The storm will then move northwest across the Visayas and north of Mimaropa, before entering the South China Sea on the morning of November 26.
The potential storm to become the 15th storm in the East Sea is forecast to have no strong winds but will cause significant rain.
According to the heavy rain forecast released by PAGASA on the morning of November 23, from November 24, moderate to heavy rain will appear in eastern and central Visayas, Siquijor, some areas of Caraga and Northern Mindanao.
Heavy to very heavy rain is forecast in Visayas, Bicol, Calabarzon and Mimaropa as the storm makes landfall in the Philippines.
The latest storm is also likely to increase the impact of wind shear, affecting the weather in Cagayan Valley and Aurora.
The Philippine weather forecast agency warns of flooding and landslides expected in many places across the country. Heavy rains are possible in mountainous and highland areas, and previous rains could aggravate the impact in some areas.
Verbena will be the third tropical storm to hit the PAR in November and the 22nd of the year. Earlier this month, Hurricane Tino (international name Kalmaegi, the 13th storm in the East Sea) and Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong, storm No. 14 in the East Sea) devastated the central Philippines and Northern Luzon.
More than 250 people have died and more than 100 are still missing due to Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines, after the storm brought heavy rains that caused major flash floods in Cebu and Negros. Meanwhile, Typhoon Fung-wong killed 33 people in the Philippines.
PAGASA forecasts that up to 2 new low pressure areas will appear in the PAR this December. After Verbena, other unused typhoon names for the 2025 typhoon season in the Philippines are Wilma, Yasmin and Zoraida.
