'Josie' enters PAR, weakens into tropical depression

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical cyclone Josie (international name: Haishen) has entered the Philippine area of responsibility but has weakened into a tropical depression and is less likely to directly affect the country, PAGASA reported Tuesday, July 14.

No tropical cyclone wind signal is currently raised.

As of 8 a.m., the state weather bureau said Josie was being monitored inside PAR as a tropical depression.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, when Josie was still classified as a tropical storm, PAGASA placed its center at 1,085 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas. It had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph.

Josie was moving northwestward at 25 kph, with strong to gale-force winds extending outward up to 480 kilometers from the center.

PAGASA said Josie is less likely to directly affect the country's weather throughout the forecast period.

Forecast track. The cyclone is forecast to move generally northward until Wednesday, July 15, before turning northeastward. It is forecast to exit PAR by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

PAGASA also said Josie may further weaken into a low pressure area by Wednesday due to an unfavorable environment.

Habagat hazards. While Josie is not expected to directly affect the country, the southwest monsoon is forecast to bring strong to gale-force gusts over several areas in Luzon, especially coastal and upland areas exposed to winds.

On Tuesday, these gusts may affect Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cavite, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro.

On Wednesday, July 15, they may affect Ilocos Region, Abra, Apayao, Zambales, Bataan, Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

By Thursday, July 16, strong to gale-force gusts may still affect Ilocos Region, Abra, Apayao, Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

Rough seas. PAGASA said rough seas of up to 3 meters may affect the western seaboards of Babuyan Islands and Pangasinan, as well as the seaboards of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union.

Small seacraft, including motorbancas, are advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if operators are inexperienced or vessels are ill-equipped.

Moderate to rough seas may also affect the remaining seaboard of Pangasinan, the seaboards of Batanes and Zambales, and the western seaboards of Bataan, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Islands.

Similar sea conditions may affect the remaining seaboards of Babuyan Islands, the southern seaboard of Bataan, and the northern seaboards of mainland Cagayan, Calamian Islands and Kalayaan Islands.

PAGASA is also monitoring another low pressure area outside PAR. As of 8 a.m., the LPA had a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.

The public is advised to monitor updates from PAGASA.