'Florita' accelerates toward South China Sea

Tropical depression "Florita" accelerated on its way toward the South China Sea Saturday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said Florita was estimated at 340 km west-northwest of Baguio City as of 10 a.m. The tropical depression packed maximum winds of 55 kph near the center and was moving north-northwest at 19 kph. By Sunday morning it is expected to be 570 km west-northwest of Basco, Batanes. No public storm signals have been raised on any area in the country. However, PAGASA said Florita is still expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains and occasional strong winds over the Western section of Luzon. Meanwhile, PAGASA is monitoring a low-pressure area estimated at 390 km northeast of Basco, Batanes. It did not say if the LPA will intensify into a cyclone. Should the LPA become one, it will be codenamed "Glenda." — LBG, GMANews.TV