New storm threatens northern Luzon

A week after super-typhoon "Paeng" lashed the Philippines, a new tropical depression is closing in on northern Luzon, state forecasters said Thursday. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 10 a.m., tropical depression "Queenie" was estimated at 1,040 km east of northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center. Pagasa said Queenie was moving west at 19 kph and was expected to be 700 km east southeast of northern Luzon by Friday morning; 330 km east southeast of northern Luzon Saturday morning; and in the vicinity of Aparri, Cagayan by Sunday morning. Cagayan province was among the hardest-hit areas when "Paeng" lashed Luzon last week. But Pag-asa said "Queenie" is not likely to affect any part of the country within the next 24 hours. Northern and eastern Luzon will experience cloudy skies with rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over northern Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Light to moderate winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas. - GMANews.TV