Tropical Depression Igme forms, to exit PAR Saturday

Tropical Depression Igme, the country's ninth tropical cyclone this year, has formed and is moving northwestward.

As of 11 p.m. Friday, Igme was located 500 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gusts up to 70 kph, moving northwestward at 40 kph.

Igme is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Saturday morning and is headed for Japan's southernmost islands.

While expected to remain a tropical depression, the possibility of it briefly becoming a tropical storm is not ruled out.

A passing cold front over the East China Sea will weaken Igme into a low pressure area by Sunday, according to PAGASA.

All tropical cyclone wind signals have been lifted.

Igme will bring heavy to intense rainfall over Batanes between Friday night to Saturday night, while Isabela and Cagayan, including Babuyan Island, will experience moderate to heavy rainfall.

The southwest monsoon or habagat will bring moderate to heavy rains in Ilocos region, Zambales and Bataan from Friday night to Saturday night.