LPA may develop into tropical depression once it crosses Mindanao — Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — The low pressure area (LPA) east of the country may develop into a tropical depression once it crosses the Mindanao landmass and moves over the Sulu Sea, the state weather bureau said on Thursday afternoon.

According to weather reports from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) the LPA which was last spotted 385 kilometers east southeast of Davao City has a low chance of intensifying as a tropical cyclone before it hits land.

However, Pagasa said that it would still monitor the LPA despite models showing that possible intensification would occur only when it hits sea.

The LPA is expected to affect weather in Visayas and Mindanao on Friday and over the weekend, as a huge part may see rains and thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, state meteorologists also clarified that the rains experienced in Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon earlier were not due to the LPA, but was brought by the intensified northeast monsoon which now affects a huge part of Luzon.

This stronger northeast monsoon or amihan is expected to bring colder mornings in the coming days, aside from cloudy weather and occasional rains. Temperatures in Tuguegarao would remain low at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius, 24 to 31 degrees in Laoag, 15 to 23 degrees in Baguio, 24 to 30 degrees in Legazpi, and 23 to 30 degrees in Metro Manila.

For Visayas and Mindanao, the LPA would bring cloudy weather and lower temperatures, like Cebu and Tacloban which would see around 24 to 30 degrees, Iloilo with 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, Cagayan de Oro with 23 to 30 degrees, and Davao at 24 to 29 degrees.

The combined effects of the northeast monsoon and the LPA prompted Pagasa to place the entire outer eastern seaboard of the country under a gale warning, plus the northern Luzon waters around Batanes, Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Region.

Fisherfolk and boat transfer operators are not allowed to set sail in these areas as sea condition would be rough to very rough, with waves reaching height of 2.8 meters to 4.5 meters.

JE