The low pressure area (LPA) east of extreme northern Luzon has developed into a tropical depression and was given the local name, “Gardo,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 30.
Meanwhile, a cyclone with the international name “Hinnamnor,” which is still outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), has intensified into a super typhoon.
PAGASA said that Hinnamnor may join Gardo inside the PAR on Wednesday evening, Aug. 31.
Once inside the PAR, the domestic name “Henry” will be assigned to Hinnamnor.
As of 4 p.m., PAGASA estimated the location of Gardo at 1,185 kilometers (km) east of extreme northern Luzon, while Hinnamnor was spotted 1,485 km east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon.
Interaction between 2 cyclones seen
PAGASA is seeing an interaction between Gardo and Hinnamnor as they are close to one another.
Gardo will initially move west-southwestward, then turn north-northwestward following its interaction with Hinnamnor.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Gardo has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph, while Hinnamnor was packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gustiness of up to 230 kph.
It also said that Gardo may intensify into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours. On the other hand, Hinnamnor may continue to intensify while over the sea south of Japan and reach a peak intensity of 195 kph.
PAGASA pointed out that Gardo may degenerate into a remnant low by Thursday afternoon, Sept. 1, as Hinnamnor “begins to assimilate” its circulation.
“The extent of tropical cyclone winds of Hinnamnor may continue to expand in the coming days as it moves towards the northern Philippine Sea. As such, the possibility of hoisting a tropical cyclone wind signal over extreme Northern Luzon during the occurrence of this tropical cyclone within the PAR region is not ruled out,” PAGASA said.
24-hour weather forecast
PAGASA said the trough or extension of Gardo may bring cloudy skies, scattered rain showers, and thunderstorms over Aurora, Camarines Norte, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon in the next 24 hours.
It warned of “scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rains” that could trigger flash floods or landslides in these areas.
Meanwhile, the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA advised the public to stay vigilant as flash floods or landslides may occur during severe thunderstorms, which are often accompanied by sudden heavy rains, lightning, thunder, gusty winds, and sometimes hail.