Storm east of Philippines set to intensify, could skirt Hong Kong by weekend
Tropical depression was about 980km east of Manila on Monday evening and moving west or west-northwest at about 18km/h
A tropical depression has developed to the east of the Philippines and might intensify further, skirting about 400km (248 miles) to the south of Hong Kong later this week, the Observatory has warned.
The tropical depression was about 980km east of Manila on Monday evening and moving west or west-northwest at about 18km/h (11mph) towards seas east of Luzon in the Philippines. It is expected to directly affect the northern part of Luzon.
The Observatory has released a path projection for the tropical depression, indicating a potential upgrade to a severe tropical storm by Tuesday, and further strengthening to a typhoon on Friday.
It could approach to within 800km southeast of Hong Kong, steering towards the central South China Sea.
By Saturday afternoon, it could pass 400km to the south of Hong Kong as it weakened to a severe tropical storm, the Observatory said.
However, the forecaster said there were uncertainties over its subsequent route, with possibilities including a westward motion across the central and northern South China Sea or taking a northwestward track edging closer to the coast of southern China.