LPA off Babuyan Islands now Tropical Depression Bising

The low pressure area off the coast of the Babuyan Group of Islands has developed into Tropical Depression Bising, according to PAGASA early Friday morning.

PAGASA said Bising was located 200 kilometers west northwest of Calayan, Cagayan at 4 a.m., moving southwestward at 20 km/h. It has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

Signal No. 1 has been raised in the following areas:

• The western portion of Babuyan Islands (Calayan Island and Dalupiri Island)
• The northwestern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Bangui, Burgos, Pasuquin, Dumalneg)

''Bising will continue moving generally westward slowly in the next 12 hours and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility today. Afterwards, it will turn northeastward,'' PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin.

''Re-entry to the western boundary of the PAR is possible by Sunday (July 6). The forecast track is highly uncertain and a possible southward shift resulting to hoisting of Wind Signal No. 2 over Batanes and Babuyan Islands is not ruled out,'' it added. 

It is predicted to strengthen into a tropical storm by Saturday afternoon or evening, and further intensification is possible when it passes over the waters south of Taiwan.

Bising is the second tropical cyclone to form inside the PAR this year.

The weather bureau expects two to three tropical cyclones to enter the PAR in July.

In its 24-hour weather forecast, PAGASA said Ilocos Norte and Babuyan Islands would experience rains and gusty winds, while Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Batanes, and mainland Cagayan would expect cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms because of Bising.

The rest of the country will see cloudy skies and rains due to the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

Moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough coastal waters are forecast for Northern Luzon, while the rest of the country will have light to moderate winds and slight to moderate coastal waters. —VBL, GMA Integrated News