Tropical听depression may intensify into typhoon听
A听LOW-pressure area spotted off Mindanao had听become a tropical depression and could听soon听intensify into a typhoon听in the next 24 hours,听the local weather bureau听said听on听Sunday.听
The tropical depression was听seen听1,955 kilometers east of Mindanao at about听3听p.m.,听the听agency听said in听a听4 p.m.听weather forecast听posted on its website.听
It had听maximum sustained winds of听55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to听70听kph.听It was moving westward at 15 kph, it added.听
鈥淭he tropical depression is forecast to gradually intensify and may reach tropical storm category within the next 24 hours,鈥澨齮he agency听earlier听said听in a separate bulletin.听
The cyclone is expected to enter the Philippine areas听on Tuesday, after which it will be assigned named听Odette, it added.听
鈥淏y Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, the tropical cyclone will begin to move westward and may make landfall over听the听Eastern Visayas-Caraga听area,鈥澨齣t said.听鈥淒ue to favorable environmental conditions, the tropical cyclone will likely continue to intensify and may reach typhoon category by Tuesday evening or Wednesday early morning.鈥澨
The public and disaster risk reduction and management offices听should听continue monitoring for updates related to听the听tropical cyclone.听鈥斕Norman P. Aquino听
