“Carina” (international name: Gaemi) has intensified from a tropical depression to a tropical storm, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
The tropical storm has winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts up to 80 kph. It is currently moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.
Carina was last estimated 630 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora on Saturday.
“Heavy rainfall directly caused by Carina remains less likely over next three days. However, there may be changes in the current forecast scenario in the succeeding bulletins, which may affect the heavy rainfall outlook within the forecast period,” PAGASA’s 5 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin on Saturday states.
The state weather bureau forecast Carina to steadily intensify and be upgraded to a severe tropical storm by Monday, eventually reaching typhoon category on Tuesday.
However, it is expected to “generally have a mainly offshore path over the next five days and remain far from the Philippine landmass.”
Carina will enhance the Southwest Monsoon along with Tropical Depression Butchoy, bringing moderate to heavy rains over the western portion of Luzon over the next three days.
Tropical depression “Butchoy” meanwhile left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday, according to Pagasa.
Butchoy is forecast to move west and make possible landfall in Hainan, China on Monday, Pagasa said in its latest bulletin.
Meanwhile, tropical depression “Carina” maintains its strength as it continues to hover east of Virac, Catanduanes. It has maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.
Carina is forecast to steadily intensify and reach typhoon category by Tuesday.
The two tropical depressions were enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat, bringing moderate to heavy rains over parts of Luzon and Visayas.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Carina develops into tropical storm
