New LPA to make scattered rains persist in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — A new low-pressure area (LPA) has emerged south of Mindanao and will make southern sections of the country still experience isolated rain showers and thunderstorms starting Wednesday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its Wednesday afternoon weather update that the LPA was last seen 135 kilometers east of General Santos City.

According to Pagasa, the other LPA south of Mindanao — which brought rains to the region as well as Eastern Visayas during the past few days — has already dissipated. And despite the presence of this new LPA, state meteorologists said there is still a low chance that the country will face a tropical cyclone in the coming days.

Remaining parts of the country will continue to have warm and humid climate because of the easterlies, or the hot winds blowing from the Pacific Ocean. However, Pagasa said isolated rains may still occur as a result of thunderstorm build-up.

For April 1, Maundy Thursday, temperatures in Metro Manila will be 24 to 33 degrees Celsius as it will be 24 to 34 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao, 24 to 32 degrees Celsius in Laoag, 16 to 24 degrees Celsius in Baguio, 25 to 33 degrees Celsius in Legazpi, and 25 to 31 degrees Celsius over LPA-affected Puerto Princesa.

In the Visayas, Tacloban and Cebu will have temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius while Iloilo’s will be at 26 to 31 degrees Celsius even as the LPA was forecast to bring cloudy skies over a huge part of the area.  In Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga will experience a 23 to 30 degrees Celsius climate while Davao will have it at around 24 to 31 degrees Celsius.

Pagasa said there are no gale warnings for now since sea conditions all over the country will be slight to moderate. However, it also said that sea situations south of Mindanao may vary during thunderstorms with the new LPA bringing rains in the area.

KGA