The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday, July 23, said the low-pressure area (LPA) near Cagayan now has a high chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 hours.

Once it intensifies, it will be named “Emong.”

PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin de la Cruz-Galicia said the LPA was located over the coastal waters of Calayan Island in Calayan, Cagayan, as of 4 a.m.

“By the time na ito’y maging bagyo ay agad-agad po tayong magtataas ng wind signals sa ilang bahagi ng Northern Luzon dahil sa proximity nito na malapit sa ating kalupaan (If this develops into a storm, we will immediately raise wind signals over some parts of Northern Luzon due to its proximity to land),” de la Cruz-Galicia said.


She added that forecast models show the system moving from the Balintang Channel into the waters off the Ilocos Region before potentially shifting back northeast.

“Bukod sa posible tayo magtaas ng signal sa ilang bahagi ng Northern Luzon, ay maghahatak pa ito ng habagat (Aside from the possible raising of wind signals over parts of Northern Luzon, this system may also enhance the southwest monsoon),” de la Cruz-Galicia added.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression “Dante” and the potential new cyclone are expected to continue enhancing the southwest monsoon (habagat), causing persistent rains over large parts of Luzon and some areas in the Visayas.

As of early Wednesday morning, Dante was located 880 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts reaching up to 70 kph.

It is moving northwestward at 25 kph.

“Malayo ang sentro nito sa kalupaan at hindi ito nakakaapekto sa anumang bahagi ng kalupaan, in terms of wind o hangin niya (Its center is far from land and it is not affecting any part of the country in terms of wind),” de la Cruz-Galicia said.

“Sa mga susunod na araw ay hindi rin makaapekto yung hangin nito kaya’t hindi po tayo nagtaas ng wind signals sa anumang bahagi ng ating arkipelago (In the coming days, its winds will also not have any effect, which is why we have not raised any wind signals over any part of our archipelago),” she added.

However, PAGASA warned that Dante is helping enhance the habagat, which is currently bringing rains to parts of Luzon and Visayas.

“Ang nakikita nating concern kay Dante ay yung kanyang lokasyon ay very favorable para makapaghatak pa o mag-enhance pa lalo ng habagat (Our concern with Dante is that its location is very favorable for enhancing the southwest monsoon),” de la Cruz-Galicia said.

“At yung habagat po na 'yan, siya po ang nagdudulot ng mga pag-ulan sa malaking bahagi ng Luzon at ilang bahagi ng Visayas (And it is the southwest monsoon that is bringing rain to large parts of Luzon and some areas of Visayas),” she added.

PAGASA is also monitoring another LPA currently located 2,525 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas.

While it is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and poses no immediate threat, it continues to be closely monitored.