Weather Today – July 22, 2017

LPA develops into Tropical Depression Fabian

(8:00 AM UPDATE) The Low Pressure Area (LPA) in the Extreme Northern Luzon has developed into a tropical cyclone. At 7:00 A.M. today, the center of Tropical Depression Fabian was estimated at 45 kilometers (km) west-southwest of Basco, Batanes. It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph, forecast to move west-northwest at 16 kph.

“Fabian,” will bring moderate to heavy rains within its 300-kilometer diameter. It is expected to cross Batanes and the Babuyan Group of Islands today. Areas under Signal Number 1 may bring medium damage to low-risk structures and slight damage to houses made of very light materials. Rice crops may suffer significant damage during their flowering stage.

Due to the tropical depression, rains with gusty winds are expected in the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Babuyan Group of Islands, Apayao and Ilocos Norte. As an effect of the Habagat or the Southwest Monsoon, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced in the rest of Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, MIMAROPA, CALABARZON and Visayas. The Intertropical Convergence Zone, an area of wind convergence and series of LPAs, will also bring light to moderate rains in Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga and Davao Region. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail in the remaining parts of the country.

Meanwhile, another LPA was also spotted at 720 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur and may develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.