A low pressure area outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday had developed into a tropical depression.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the tropical depression is threatening to enter the PAR by Saturday night or Sunday morning.
The weather system was estimated at 2,715 kilometers east of Mindanao.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 60 km/h, it was moving westward at 20 kph.
Ariel Rojas, weather specialist, said the tropical depression, if it enters the PAR, would be named “Samuel.”
He said the weather system would affect the eastern part of the Visayas and Mindanao.
The LPA earlier spotted within the PAR had already dissipated.
Another LPA at 370 kilometers southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan had formed.
Pagasa, however, said the new LPA has a slim chance to become a tropical depression.