LPA develops into Tropical Depression Hanna
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Satellite image of Tropical Depression Hanna as of August 3, 2019, 9:30 pm. Image from PAGASA
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The low pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) became a tropical depression at 8 pm on Saturday, August 3. It has been given the local name Hanna.
In a bulletin issued 11 pm on Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Depression Hanna is 940 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, or 1,190 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon.
It is moving northwest at a slow 10 kilometers per hour (km/h).
The tropical depression has maximum winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. It might intensify into a tropical storm while inside PAR, and then into a severe tropical storm just before exiting PAR.
There are no areas under tropical cyclone wind signals, since Hanna is far from land. It is also not expected to make landfall in any part of the country, only staying near the PAR boundary.
But the tropical depression is enhancing the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat, which is affecting Luzon and Western Visayas.
Below is the expected rainfall from the enhanced southwest monsoon in the next 3 days.
Sunday, August 4, and Monday, August 5
- Moderate to heavy rain
- Metro Manila
- Pangasinan
- Zambales
- Bataan
- Rizal
- Cavite
- Batangas
- Occidental Mindoro
- Oriental Mindoro
- northern part of Palawan
- Romblon
- Aklan
- Antique
- Light to heavy rain
- rest of Luzon
- rest of the Visayas
Tuesday, August 6
- Moderate to heavy rain
- Metro Manila
- Ilocos Region
- Zambales
- Bataan
- Rizal
- Cavite
- Batangas
- Occidental Mindoro
- Oriental Mindoro
- northern part of Palawan
- Romblon
- Aklan
- Antique
- Light to heavy rain
- rest of Luzon
- rest of the Visayas
PAGASA warned areas affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon to watch out for flash floods and landslides. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)
Based on Hanna's latest forecast track, it is expected to leave PAR on Thursday, August 8.
Forecast track of Tropical Depression Hanna as of August 3, 2019, 11 pm. Image from PAGASA
Hanna is the Philippines' 8th tropical cyclone for 2019, and the 1st for the month of August. (READ: LIST: PAGASA's names for tropical cyclones in 2019)
The country gets an average of 20 tropical cyclones annually, but since 2019 is an El Niño year, only 14 to 18 tropical cyclones are expected.
Below is the estimated number of tropical cyclones from August to December:
- August - 2 to 4
- September - 2 to 4
- October - 2 or 3
- November - 1 or 2
- December - 0 or 1
PAGASA declared the start of the rainy season last June 14. – Rappler.com
