Low pressure to bring rain to Eastern Visayas, Bicol

Residents in Southern Luzon and Visayas should brace for widespread rains on Wednesday brought by a low pressure area (LPA) east of Masbate province.

The effects of this weather system were amplified by the tailend of the frontal system, where the cold winds from the northeast monsoon clash with the warm winds from the tropics, resulting in thunderstorms.

As of 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the LPA was estimated at 65 kilometers east southeast of Masbate City, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its weather bulletin.

In an earlier advisory, the weather service said the LPA was forecast to move generally northwestward and to travel over the Southern Luzon and Visayas areas.

However, it was not expected to strengthen into a tropical depression in the next few days.

The combined effects of the LPA and the tailend of the frontal system will bring cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rains and thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas and Bicol regions, as well as over the provinces of Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro and Quezon.

Pagasa cautioned residents to be vigilant for possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to heavy, with at times intense, rains.

Scattered showers are also expected overhead in Western and Central Visayas and Caraga regions, and the provinces of Occidental Mindoro, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal.

The northeast monsoon, locally known as amihan, may also bring rain over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.