Two tropical depressions form inside PAR

Two tropical depressions, Butchoy and Carina, have formed within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), becoming the country's second and third tropical cyclones of the year.

Tropical Depression Butchoy is located 615 km west of Tanauan City, Batangas, moving west-northwestward at 20 kph with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

Tropical Depression Carina is located 645 km east of Virac, Catanduanes, moving northwestward at 30 kph with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

While Butchoy is unlikely to directly affect the Philippines within the next three days, it is enhancing the Southwest Monsoon.

The Southwest Monsoon will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Antique, Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Zambales, and Bataan, with PAGASA warning of possible flash floods or landslides.

Carina will generally have a mainly offshore path over the next five days and remain far from the Philippine landmass.

Both weather systems are expected to intensify over the weekend, with Butchoy potentially developing into a tropical storm category on Saturday before leaving the PAR.

Carina is seen to slowly intensify into a tropical storm by Sunday and further strengthen to reach the typhoon category on Tuesday, July 23.