Tropical Depression Urduja has maintained its strength as it continued to traverse the Philippine Sea threatening Bicol Region and parts of Samar Provinces, the state weather bureau PAGASA reported Wednesday morning.
In its 11 am severe weather bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Tropical Depression was last spotted at 405 kilometers east of Guiuan Eastern Samar packing a maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kilometers per hour.
It is forecast to move in a north-northwest direction at 7 kilometers per hour and may strengthen into a Tropical Storm within the next 36 hours.
No tropical cyclone warning signal has been raised as of Wednesday morning but PAGASA said Urduja will bring moderate to heavy rain within its 350-kilometer diameter.
Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are also advised not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region, of Eastern Visayas and of Caraga due to moderate to rough seas associated with the approaching Tropical Depression, the state weather bureau added.
Additionally, due to the Tropical Depression, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, CALABARZON, parts of Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, cloudy conditions and scattered rain will be experienced over Metro Manila, the Cagayan Valley and Cordillera regions, and over the rest of Central Luzon; and partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with isolated light rain over the Ilocos Region due to the prevailing Northeast Monsoon.
The state weather bureau also advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned to take appropriate actions. The next weather bulletin will be issued at 4 pm today. —R4A/DOST-PAGASA
