By Alec Go
The low pressure area east of Central Luzon developed into a tropical depression at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, according to the country’s weather bureau. Its local given name is Karding.
As of 10:00 a.m., Karding is located 1,350 kilometers (km) east of Central Luzon or 1,370 km east of Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 45 km per hour and gustiness of up to 55 km per hour.
In its 11:00 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Karding may bring heavy rains over Northern and Central Luzon starting late Saturday.
“Sa mga oras na ito ay wala pang direktang epekto sa anumang bahagi ng ating bansa itong Bagyong karding, bagkus itong possible na mahinang pinag-ibayong habagat pa rin ang nakaaapekto sa ilang bahagi ng bansa,” PAGASA senior weather specialist Chris Perez said.
PAGASA said there is likelihood of isolated to scattered flooding including flash floods and rain-induced landslides in some areas due to Karding.
There may also be moderate to rough seas over the seaboards of Northern and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon beginning Sunday.
Karding is forecast to maintain its westward movement until its landfall in the east coast of Isabela or Cagayan on Sunday before traversing Northern Luzon and emerging over the West Philippine Sea on Monday.
“Ang kritikal [days] ay Monday to Sunday dahil inaasahan nga nating tatawid ng Northern Luzon area ang Bagyong Karding, at sa Lunes ng umaga ay posibleng nandito siya sa may bandang vicinity ng Tabuk, Kalinga,” Perez said.
“Sa darating na Martes ng umaga, inaasahan nating tuluyan na itong nakalabas sa ating area of responsibility,” he added
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. #1 may be hoisted over Northern Luzon and some portions of Central Luzon as early as Friday evening or Saturday morning.
