THE low pressure area (LPA) spotted near Ilocos Sur has intensified into tropical depression “Josie” on Saturday morning, the state weather bureau said.
Josie is the 10th tropical depression for the year and the fourth for the month of July. The tropical depression was spotted at 195 kilometers west northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Josie has maximum winds of up to 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 60 (kph), with a slow movement going northeast.
Pagasa also raised tropical cyclone warning number one over Batanes, Northern Cagayan, Babuyan Group of Islands, Ilocos Norte, Northern portion of Ilocos Sur, Apayao, and Northern portion of Abra.