'Dante' now a tropical storm; LPA develops into 'Emong'

Cyclone "Dante" has intensified into a tropical storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Wednesday.

The center of "Dante" was estimated at 900 kilometers (km) east of extreme northern Luzon. It had maximum sustained winds of 65 km per hour (km/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.

The enhanced southwest monsoon or "habagat" will bring strong gale-force gusts over Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Mimaropa, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental until Thursday.

"Dante" is forecast to move generally northwestward over the Philippine Sea for the next 24 hours and move towards the Ryukyu Islands and then East China Sea.

It is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Thursday.

Further, as of Wednesday morning, the low pressure area (LPA) spotted west of Babuyan Islands developed into Tropical Depression "Emong."

Meanwhile, another LPA still being monitored outside PAR has a "high" chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.