Pagasa predicts rain but no storms

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 12a.m., 12 November 2012

The weather bureau has alerted residents of southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao to watch out for possible flash floods and landslides that may be triggered by rains caused by a low pressure area (LPA) embedded in the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the LPA was anticipated to bring moderate to heavy rains (5 to 15 mm per hour) and thunderstorms to those areas, particularly Eastern Visayas, the Caraga region, northern Mindanao and Zamboanga del Norte.

Weather forecaster Connie Dadivas said the LPA was not expected to develop into a tropical cyclone since it was too close to land.

She said the LPA would bring rains that would last up to Monday. As of 4 p.m. Sunday, satellite and surface data showed the LPA at 350 kilometers east of Surigao City.

In its 5 p.m. forecast, the weather bureau said it expected southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, where the ITCZ would remain in effect, to be cloudy with moderate to heavy rain showers or thunderstorms. Light rains are anticipated in the Cagayan Valley, Aurora province and Metro Manila. The rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy with isolated brief rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening, Pagasa said. Jeannette I. Andrade