LPA turns into TD Josie; seven N. Luzon areas under Signal 1

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal 1 is hoisted over some areas in northern Luzon as the  low-pressure area state weather bureau PAGASA was monitoring turned into "Tropical Depression Josie" late Saturday morning.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, PAGASA forecaster Nico Peñaranda said that Signal 1 is up in Batanes; Northern Cagayan, including the Babuyan Group of Islands; Ilocos Norte; northern part of Ilocos Sur; Apayao; and northern part of Abra.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 1: Batanes, Northern Cagayan kabilang ang Babuyan Group of Islands, Ilocos Norte, hilagang bahagi ng Ilocos Sur, Apayao at hilagang bahagi ng Abra. | via @dost_pagasa

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 21, 2018

At 11 a.m., TD Josie was located at 195 kilometers west-northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur and was moving slowly towards its northwest direction to Babuyan Island Group in Ilocos Norte. 

Josie has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 60 kph.

Heavy rain is expected in Ilocos Region, Cordillera, Zambales (particularly the northern portion), Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija, said Peñaranda.

PAGASA advised residents in low-lying areas to brace themselves against floods, and to monitor weather updates from PAGASA. —LBG, GMA News