Queenie to enter PAR today

MANILA, Philippines — A tropical depression is set to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) today and will be given the local name Queenie, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

The weather disturbance is expected to enter PAR around morning. It was last located 1,810 kilometers east of Southeastern Luzon, packing winds of 55 kilometers per hour with gusts of up to 70 km per hour while moving north-northwestward at 15 kph.

Queenie is the first tropical cyclone to enter the country this month and the 17th overall this year.

The trough of the tropical depression is expected to bring rains over the eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao.

Queenie may intensify into a typhoon over the weekend but is unlikely to make landfall.

The tropical cyclone is expected to be directly felt over Batanes and Cagayan but is unlikely to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat.