LPA west of Zambales now tropical depression Caloy

The low pressure area (LPA) west of Zambales on Tuesday developed into a tropical depression which has been named Caloy, the weather bureau PAGASA has said.

PAGASA said the LPA developed into a tropical depression at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

At 10 p.m. on Tuesday night, Caloy was spotted 385 kilometers west of Iba town. 

It has maximum winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of 55kph.

Caloy was moving west northwest slowly and is expected to move over the West Philippine Sea to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

It is seen to enhance the Southwest Monsoon to cause rains in Luzon and the Visayas.

It is expected to be 405 kilometers west of Iba in 12 hours and 560 kilometers west of Dagupan City and already outside the PAR in 24 hours or by Wednesday night.

No tropical cyclone wind signal has been hoisted for Caloy.

PAGASA said the enhanced Southwest Monsoon would bring occasionally gusty conditions reaching strong breeze to near gale in strength over extreme Northern Luzon, and the western sections of Luzon and Visayas.

These conditions are more likely in mountainous and upland localities of these areas.

PAGASA said moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are expected over Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Aurora, and Quezon.

It said light to moderate with at times heavy rains are likely over Metro Manila, the rest of Mimaropa, Rizal, Tarlac, Pampanga, Ilocos Region, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.

The tropical depression and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon will bring moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 3.1 meters) over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, the weather bureau said.

"These conditions may be risky for those using small seacraft. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions," PAGASA said.

PAGASA earlier said the monsoon would bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas, and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

This could cause flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

Meanwhile, the rest of Mindanao will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Residents were advised of possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. —NB, GMA News