Jolina exits; another LPA spotted

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Depression Jolina intensified into a storm yesterday as it moved away from the Philippine area of responsibility, even as the state weather agency spotted a new low-pressure area (LPA) east of the country.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Jolina would continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over Metro Manila, the Calabarzon and Mimaropa until today.

The rest of the country will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

The cities of Manila, Pasay and Taguig suspended classes in pre-school up to high school yesterday due to heavy rains brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon.

But no storm signal was raised in any part of the country as of yesterday afternoon.

As of 10 a.m., the center of the storm was spotted at 450 kilometers west of Subic, Zambales with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Jolina was forecast to move northwest at 11 kph and was expected to exit the Philippine territory last night.

PAGASA said Jolina would continue to bring moderate to heavy rains within its 300-km radius.

Meanwhile, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldzar Aurelio said the new low-pressure area was spotted at 210 km east of Virac, Catanduanes.

Aurelio said the low-pressure area is likely to intensify into a cyclone while over the Philippine Sea but is likely to weaken when it crosses the mountains of Luzon.

He said the low-pressure area would be named Kiko once it develops into a cyclone. – With Perseus Echeminada, Alexis Romero