Dante may develop into tropical storm Wednesday – PAGASA

Tropical Depression Dante will intensify in the next 24 hours as it moves northward of the country, according to PAGASA’s 5 p.m. bulletin on Tuesday.

''Dante may reach tropical storm category tomorrow [Wednesday]. Further intensification into a severe tropical storm remains less likely but is not ruled out,'' PAGASA said. 

At 4 p.m., Dante was located 1,115 km east northeast of Central Luzon or 1,130 km east of Northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

It was moving north northwestward at 20 km/h.

Heavy rainfall is expected in parts of the country due to the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) enhanced by Dante, the low pressure area east of Batanes, and tropical cyclone Wipha (formerly Crising). 

In its daily weather forecast at 4 p.m., PAGASA said monsoon rains are possible over Metro Manila, Bataan, Zambales, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Bulacan.

Habagat will also bring occasional rains over the rest of Ilocos Region, the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, the rest of MIMAROPA, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental, and cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the rest of the country.

Flash floods or landslides may occur due to bad weather. 

The enhanced Southwest Monsoon will bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas:

• Tuesday: Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Visayas, and Dinagat Islands

• Thursday: Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, and Dinagat Islands.

• Friday: Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte Camiguin, and Dinagat Islands.

''Dante is forecast to move northward or north northwestward over the Philippine Sea from tonight to tomorrow, before turning northwestward towards the Ryukyu Islands and the East China Sea. On the track forecast, Dante may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday or on Friday,'' PAGASA said. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News