Tropical Depression Pilandok to spare Philippines as monsoon rains persist

Tropical Depression Pilandok will not directly impact the Philippines, though the southwest monsoon will continue to bring heavy rains to parts of Luzon and the western Visayas, the state weather bureau said Tuesday. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported in its 5 a.m. forecast that Pilandok was last spotted approximately 1,050 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon. The system maintained its strength with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gustiness up to 70 kph. Weather specialist Veronica Torres stated that the tropical depression has a low chance of making landfall anywhere in the country. It is forecast to move east-northeastward and then northeastward over the next 24 hours. Pilandok may traverse northwestward and exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. PAGASA expects the system to intensify into a tropical storm within the next 12 hours. While Pilandok poses no direct threat, the prevailing southwest monsoon, known locally as habagat, will continue to affect weather conditions.