By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA, (PNA) — The low pressure area West of Zambales on Thursday has developed into a Tropical Depression and was named “Paolo.”
The state weather bureau said that Paolo is the second cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of responsibility (PAR) this month and is the 16th cyclone this year to hit the country, which on the average is battered by about 17 to 20 storms every year.
Weather Forecaster Joey Figuracion said that as of 4 p.m. Tropical depression Paolo was located 230 km West of Subic, Zambales (14.9°N, 117.9°E) with maximum winds of 45 kph near the center. It is forecast to move West at 7 kph.
With its slow movement, it continues to move westward, Figuracion said, noting that Paolo is expected to exit the country by Saturday towards Vietnam.
“Paolo” is forecast to be at 400 km West of Subic, Zambales by Friday afternoon and is expected to be at 570 km West of Subic, Zambales or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Saturday afternoon.
Figuracion said that so far Paolo will not affect the country directly as no storm warning signals have so far been raised, and not expected to make landfall in any part of the country.
However, he said it will enhance the Southwest Monsoon that will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Zambales, Bataan, Mindoro and Northern Palawan.
Figuracion also said that except in Mindanao, most parts of the country will have cloudy skies with light rains due to the southwest monsoon.
He added that Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera, rest of Central Luzon and of Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms while Mindanao and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.