Tropical Depression Dante intensifies into a tropical storm

Tropical Depression Dante intensified into a tropical storm on Wednesday morning, according to state weather bureau PAGASA.

As of Wednesday morning, Dante was located approximately 900 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 80 kph.

The storm is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday.

While no landfall is expected, Dante will enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing strong gale-force gusts over Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Mimaropa, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental until Thursday.

Torrential rains are likely in Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro, with threats of flooding and landslides remaining in these areas.

Separately, a low pressure area (LPA) west of Babuyan Islands developed into Tropical Depression Emong.

Another LPA east of Eastern Visayas has a high chance of becoming a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.