The active low-pressure area (ALPA) that threatened parts of Luzon over the weekend has intensified into a tropical depression as it left Philippine territory Monday.
But state weather forecasters are still monitoring the movement of the cyclone code-named "Caloy," lest it make a U-turn and return toward the Philippines.
"Yung ALPA tuloy na naging bagyong tropical. Gayunpaman ito [ay] naging bagyong tropical [nang] dumaan na rito sa atin, kasalukuyang tumatawid na ng South China Sea (The ALPA became a tropical cyclone but is now crossing the South China Sea)," Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Elvie Enriquez said on dzBB radio.
She said the ALPA intensified into a tropical depression after making landfall. She said that unless it makes a U-turn, it will not affect any part of the country.
"Nagbigay lang tayo ng warning at local na pangalan, dahil nasa Philippine area of responsibility (We gave it a name and issued a warning only because it is still in the Philippine area of responsibility as of this morning)," she said.
On the other hand, she said Pagasa is not discounting the possibility of Caloy making a U-turn.
"Yan ang isa sa ating binabantayan. Wala tayong dini-discount na possibility maaring mag-recurve (That is one thing we are watching. We are not discounting the possibility of it recurving)," she said.
Another weather disturbance in July
Pagasa's 5 a.m. advisory said that as of 4 a.m., Caloy was 200 km west of Subic, Zambales, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center.
It was moving west northwest at 20 kph and is expected to be 590 km west northwest of Dagupan City Tuesday morning.
"This weather disturbance is now too far to directly affect any part of the country," it said.
Meanwhile, Enriquez said there is a possibility of another cyclone forming before the end of this month.
"On the average we get two cyclones in July. So far only one has passed through Philippine territory," she said.
Source: GmaNews