LPA outside PAR intensifies into tropical depression, may be named Marce

A low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) intensified into a tropical depression and is expected to be named Marce upon entering PAR on Monday, November 4.

As of Sunday evening, the tropical depression was located 1,130 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas, maintaining its strength with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gusts up to 70 kph, while moving northwestward at 45 kph.

It is projected to enter PAR early Monday morning and may intensify into a tropical storm.

Two potential scenarios for its track were outlined by PAGASA: it may move westward toward extreme Northern Luzon or mainland Luzon, or drift erratically over the Philippine Sea east of extreme Northern Luzon.

The tropical depression is forecast to move northwestward at a fast pace until Tuesday, November 5, before slowing down and turning more northward.

The presence of the tropical depression may enhance the surge of the northeasterly wind flow, possibly bringing rains over extreme northern Luzon and the eastern section of Luzon starting Tuesday.

The tropical depression is seen to worsen sea conditions over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western and eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, with Gale Warning possibly hoisted over the seaboards of northern Luzon starting Tuesday.