Pagasa monitors 3 LPAs; one may develop into storm

Source: Pagasa / DOST

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) is monitoring three low pressure areas (LPAs) off the waters of Luzon, according to its latest weather forecast on Friday afternoon.

One of the LPAs is currently farthest from the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) spotted at 4,295 kilometers east of Luzon, which may turn into a storm, Weather Specialist Gener Quitlong said.

“The other LPA which is still far away, this is what we are monitoring because it possibly be a storm even before entering PAR,” Quitlong said.

“The data we have says that the LPA may enter by Thursday or Friday next week or depending on when the two other LPAs will dissipate because both affects the other LPA’s movement,”  he added.

There is also an LPA inside the country, and it is expected to make landfall in the following hours.  It was last located 510 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, and has caused rain showers in various parts of northern and eastern Luzon.

It is expected to hit the northern tip of Luzon by Saturday night or Sunday morning, and is expected to dissipate by the time it hits land.

“But still, it would still bring rains especially in the northern Luzon.  What’s good is that we do not think it would become a tropical depression.  Of all the weather systems, only the farthest LPA is expected to turn into a storm,” Quitlong added.

“Because of the LPA, the provinces in Cagayan Valley, in Cordillera including Aurora province will experience cloudy skies which may include occasional rain showers and thunderstorms.  Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy skies which means that fair weather would persist,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the downpour experienced in Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Metro Manila was brought by localized thunderstorms, which Pagasa said was caused by a hot humid weather.

Earlier, Pagasa raised a thunderstorm advisory over Metro Manila and nearby provinces.  According to the latest bulletin, the situation may persist for another two hours in the areas mentioned. /jpv

READ: Pagasa raises thunderstorm advisory over NCR, nearby provinces