LPA not expected to intensify, but would bring rains over Bicol, Southern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — While the low-pressure area (LPA) east of the country is not expected to intensify as a tropical depression, state meteorologists said that it would bring cloudy skies and rains over Bicol Region and Southern Luzon from Wednesday night to Thursday.

According to the weather bulletin from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Wednesday afternoon, the LPA was last spotted 25 kilometers north of Catarman, Northern Samar.

It is expected to affect Eastern Visayas, Bicol provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Mindoro, and areas in Calabarzon.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or amihan is still prevalent, bringing cold winds over Northern Luzon.  The amihan is seen to persist in the coming days, as wind models used by Pagasa predicted that no tropical cyclone would be formed in the next two to three days.

Due to these weather systems, temperatures may be lower over these areas, ranging from 24 to 29 degrees Celsius in Laoag, 23 to 16 degrees in Baguio City, 23 to 30 degrees in Tuguegarao, and 26 to 31 degrees in Legazpi.

In Metro Manila, warm and humid weather may be felt, but isolated thunderstorms may occur by afternoon and night.  Temperatures may play around 25 to 31 degrees Celsius, while Tagaytay will remain cold at 22 to 28 degrees.

Areas in Visayas and Mindanao would see fair weather except for portions of Eastern Visayas: Tacloban, Cebu, and Iloilo would feel temperatures of 25 to 31 degrees Celsius, while it would be within 25 to 32 degrees in Davao, and 24 to 32 degrees n Zamboanga.

As of now, gale warnings are in place over the extreme northern Luzon, specifically at the coastlines of Batanes, Babuyan, and the northern coast of Ilocos Norte. [ac]