'Wilma' weakens into LPA; new tropical storm spotted

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Depression "Wilma" weakened into a low pressure area (LPA) after hitting land earlier on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the LPA was last observed at 15 kilometers southwest of Tagbilaran City embedded along the Intertopical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Visayas and Mindanao.

PAGASA said Visayas and the regions of Zamboanga Peninsula, northern Mindanao and Caraga will have cloudy to skies with moderate rains to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms that may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa and the rest of Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rains and thunderstorms.

While Wilma has weakened into an LPA, weather agencies have located another weather disturbance that is seen to hit the Philippines.

The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) has already classified the said weather system as a tropical storm internationally named "Haiyan."

Tropical Storm "Haiyan" is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility as of Monday afternoon. But according to the current track of the JTWC, the tropical cyclone is moving west toward the country.

It will be locally named "Yolanda" once it enters the country this week.