By Alec Go
The low-pressure area (LPA) east of extreme Northern Luzon has developed into a tropical depression with local name “Gardo” as of 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Based on its 5:00 p.m. bulletin, Tropical Depression Gardo may intensify into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours.
“Malayo ito sa ating Philippine landmass kaya hindi natin ito inaasahan na magkakaroon ng direktang epekto sa anumang bahagi ng ating bansa,” PAGASA Weather Specialist Ana Clauren-Jorda said.
“Ganoon din sa coastal areas, malayo rin si Gardo kaya hindi natin nakikita na magtataas tayo ng gale warning,” she added.
As of 4:00 p.m., Gardo was located east of extreme Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.
It is forecast to “move west southwestward and will move generally north northwestward as it interacts with Super Typhoon Hinnamnor which is currently outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
“Kaya hihina ulit ito at posible silang magsama or magkaroon ng interaction at maging isang ganap na LPA itong Bagyong Gardo by Thursday kapag pumasok na o nasa loob na ng ating area of responsibility si Hinnamnor ,” Jorda said.
Meanwhile, Hinnamnor will enter PAR by Wednesday evening. It will be given its local name “Henry.” By Friday, tropical cyclone wind signals may be raised over Batanes and Babuyan Islands as Hinnamnor moves closer to extreme Northern Luzon.
“Kapag medyo malapit na ang Bagyong Hinnamnor o magiging Bagyong Henry, hindi natin inaalis ang posibilidad na magpapalakas ito ng southwest monsoon o habagat,” she said.
Though Gardo and Henry will not make a landfall, rain showers are expected in Luzon and in the western section of Visayas and Mindanao.
