TROPICAL storm “Meari,” which was earlier forecast to enter the Philippine area of responsibility, remained stationary about 1,435 kilometers from Luzon as of 5 p.m. on Thursday, the weather bureau said.
Weather forecaster Lorie dela Cruz said “Meari” had slowed down and was not moving due to its “slight” interaction with a tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
“We are monitoring the movement of ‘Meari’ in the next 24 to 48 hours,” she told the Manila Standard.
“If it continues to stay stationary, it will most probably not enter PAR and instead re-curve northeast and not hit any landmass.”
The weather bureau had earlier said “Meari” could enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning. It said it would be renamed “Marce” if it did.
“Meari” was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph as of 5 p.m. Thursday.
The tropical depression causing “Meari” to slow down was 2,215 km east of extreme Northern Luzon and packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gustiness of 70 kph.
“The tropical depression has a slim chance of entering PAR,” Dela Cruz said.
But a low pressure area 185 km east of Sorsogon City is forecast to affect Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
“The LPA is embedded along an inter-tropical convergence zone,” the weather bureau said.
The two weather systems will trigger moderate to occasionally heavy rain and thunderstorms over Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Quezon.
Cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms will persist over Metro Manila, Mimaropa, the rest of Calabarzon and the Visayas and Mindanao.