Tropical depression to enter PAR Wednesday or Thursday

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MANILA, Philippines – A tropical depression that had developed from a low pressure area in the Pacific Ocean could enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday (January 14) evening or Thursday (January 15) morning, said state weather bureau PAGASA.

As of 4 pm on Tuesday, it was spotted 1,690 kilometers east of Mindanao or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), according to the agency's Tuesday evening bulletin.

Once it enters PAR, it will be given the name "Amang," making it the first storm of 2015, PAGASA Senior Weather Forecaster Manny Mendoza told Rappler.

The tropical depression packs winds with speeds of up to 55 kilometers per hour (km/h) and is forecasted to move west at a speed of 19 km/h, PAGASA added.

Even though it is still outside PAR, parts of the Philippines are already experiences light to moderate rains from its long trough, said Mendoza. These areas – Eastern Visayas and Caraga and Davao region in Mindanao – will likely experience more rains on Wednesday and Thursday if the tropical depression nears the country.

There is still a chance for the weather system to dissipate and become a low pressure area once more as it nears land. Mendoza said the cool winds of the Northeast Monsoon currently affecting Luzon could help weaken it.

The forecasted arrival of the storm coincides with Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines. Catholic Church representatives have said the storm could prompt organizers to cancel the Pope's visit to Leyte province.

Independent weather forecasting group Weather Philippines said that anywhere from Northeastern Mindanao to the Bicol region and eastern section of Luzon may be threatened by the tropical depression.

The group's Senior Typhoon Specialist David Michael Padua said some forecast models show that the weather system may reach the Samar or Leyte area on Saturday (January 17) afternoon. Other models show that it is headed for the Bicol region.

Daily forecast

PAGASA expects light to moderate rains over Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Davao should brace for light to moderate rains and possible thunderstorms on Wednesday.

It added that Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera will have light rains brought by the Northeast Monsoon currently affecting Northern Luzon.

Metro Manila and the rest of the region, meanwhile, may experience light rains. The rest of Visayas should be ready for isolated light rains.

City	Forecast		Temperature Range
Metro Manila		Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rainshowers	19°C-30°C
Tuguegarao		Light rains	19°C-28°C
Laoag		Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rainshowers	19°C-29°C
Baguio		Light rains	13°C-21°C
Subic/Olongapo; Clark/Angeles		Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rainshowers	22°C-28°C
Tagaytay		Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rainshowers	17°C-28°C
Lipa		Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rainshowers	23°C-28°C
Legazpi		Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rainshowers	24°C-28°C
Puerto Princesa		Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rainshowers	25°C-29°C
Iloilo/Bacolod		Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rainshowers and/or thunderstorms	25°C-29°C
Metro Cebu		Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rainshowers and/or thunderstorms	24°C-29°C
Tacloban		Cloudy skies with rainshowers and/or thunderstorms	23°C-27°C
Cagayan de Oro		Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rainshowers and/or thunderstorms	24°C-28°C
Metro Davao		Cloudy skies with rainshowers and/or thunderstorms	24°C-31°C
Zamboanga		Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rainshowers and/or thunderstorms	23°C-32°C

– With reports from Pia Ranada/Rappler.com