At 2:00 AM today, the Low Pressure Area east of Virac, Catanduanes DEVELOPED INTO TROPICAL DEPRESSION #PepitoPH. Severe Weather Bulletins will be issued starting at 5:00 AM today.
Pepito would be the Philippines' 16th tropical cyclone for 2020, and the 3rd for October.
While the weather system remains far from land, its trough or extension is already affecting parts of the country.
PAGASA said the LPA's trough will trigger scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in the following regions in the next 24 hours:
Eastern Visayas
Caraga
Davao Region
The rain may be moderate to heavy at times, which may cause floods and landslides.
PAGASA said in a separate 5 pm bulletin that the LPA is "likely to further strengthen" while moving over the Philippine Sea and heading for the northern part of Luzon.
"As such, the LPA may develop into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours," the state weather bureau added.
Meanwhile, the northeasterly surface windflow is affecting Luzon. PAGASA said it will bring rain showers to these areas, with floods and landslides possible during heavy rain:
Metro Manila
Cordillera Administrative Region
Cagayan Valley
Central Luzon
Calabarzon
Bicol
The Ilocos Region will also have isolated light rain due to the northeasterly surface windflow, but PAGASA said there will be "no significant impact."
The rest of the country will experience generally fair weather, with just isolated rain showers.