Tropical Depression Egay forms off east Mindanao

A low-pressure area (LPA) east of Mindanao intensified into a tropical depression early Friday, with state weather forecasters code-naming it "Egay." The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Egay may stay in Philippine territory until at least Sunday. "Kung mananatili ang pagkilos nito sa bilis na 13 kph, baka magtatagal ito ng dalawa hanggang tatlong araw sa bansa," PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said in an interview on dzBB radio. He also said Egay might not make landfall on the Philippines and may merely "graze" the eastern part of the country. "Gigilid ito sa silangang bahagi ng bansa. Sana hindi na ito mag-landfall at kikilos na ito papuntang Taiwan," he said. But he said that while no storm signals are raised for now, Southern Palawan, Eastern Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao may experience flash floods and landslides.
On the other hand, he said the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) will continue to cause rains in Mindanao. PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said Egay packed maximum winds of 55 kph near the center, and is forecast to move Northwest at 13 kph. A 5:45 a.m. PAGASA update said Egay was forecast to be 170 km east of Borongan, Eastern Samar Saturday morning; and 110 km east of Virac, Catanduanes, Sunday morning. By Monday morning, it is expected to be 190 km northeast of Casiguran, Aurora. PAGASA said Egay is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over Mindanao and Eastern Visayas. "Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Southern Palawan, Eastern Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," it said. — LBG, GMA News