‘Emong’ now a tropical storm

Tropical Depression "Emong" has developed into a tropical storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday.

The center of Tropical Storm "Emong" was estimated at 130 kilometers (km) west of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, with maximum sustained winds of 65 km per hour (km/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.

"Emong" is expected to bring moderate to heavy, at times intense, rains over the Ilocos Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Flooding or landslides remain possible, with minimal to minor threats to life and property due to strong winds.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon or "habagat" continues to affect Central and Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

On the other hand, Tropical Storm "Dante" was last spotted at 845 km east northeast of extreme northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h. It is moving north-northwestward at 25 km/h.

PAGASA is also monitoring a low-pressure area outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), which has a "high" chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.