Depression east of Mindanao may enter PAR and strengthen to typhoon

The Philippine weather bureau warned Saturday that a tropical depression east of Mindanao is likely to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Sunday and could strengthen into a storm or typhoon as it moves westward, while separate rain-producing systems are already affecting large swaths of the country during the All Saints weekend.

In its most recent advisories, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the tropical depression was centered roughly 1,370 to 1,430 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao, moving west to west‑northwest at about 15 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds currently near 45 to 55 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 70 kilometers per hour. PAGASA officials said the system is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday and will be assigned the local name Tino. It may already be a tropical storm on entry and could intensify further over the Philippine Sea, potentially reaching typhoon strength before initial landfall in Eastern Visayas or the Caraga region by Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

PAGASA forecasters cautioned that the track and intensity remain uncertain. "We...