The low pressure area (LPA) being monitored by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) northeast of Itbayat, Batanes has intensified into a tropical depression at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 4.
It was given the local name "Gorio," as the Philippines' seventh tropical cyclone for 2021.
PAGASA said Gorio was at 730 kilometers (km) northeast of Itbayat, Batanes as of 10 a.m.
It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness up to 55 kph while moving east-northeast at 20 kph.
Gorio is unlikely to have a direct effect on the country but may enhance the southwest monsoon that could bring moderate to heavy rains over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and some areas in the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon.
PAGASA warned against possible flash floods or rain-induced landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall, especially in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards.
"On the forecast track, the tropical depression is forecast to continue moving east-northeastward in the next 12 hours and will turn north-northeastward by tomorrow morning (Aug. 5)," PAGASA said.
Gorio will likely intensify into a tropical storm within 12 hours and may leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday morning, Aug. 5.