Pagasa weather satellite image
MANILA, Philippines — A low-pressure area (LPA) east of the country is being closely monitored by the state weather service as it could possibly develop into a storm.
This while the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, has started to again influence the weather system on the western section of the country.
In its weather bulletin released Thursday afternoon, Pagasa said the LPA 1,470 kilometers east of northern Luzon – although still outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) – may develop into a tropical cyclone within the next 24 to 36 hours.
The other LPA near Ilocos, which was last located 140 kilometers northwest of Laoag City, is not expected to intensify into a tropical depression, Pagasa noted, but will nevertheless bring overcast skies and scattered rain showers in the region.
“Meron tayong nabuong isang low pressure area sa loob ng PAR […] may aasahan po na maulap na kalangitan at kalat-kalat na mga pag-ulan at pagkidlat, pagkulog sa Ilocos Region at maging sa Abra at Benguet,” weather specialist Ariel Rojas said.
“‘Yong isa pa nating mino-monitor na LPA nasa labas pa rin po ng PAR kaninang alas-tres ng hapon, sa layong 1,470 kilometers silangan ng hilagang Luzon. In the next six to twelve hours ay nasa loob na ng PAR, ang LPA na ito. And in the next 24 to 36 hours ay posibleng maging isang bagyo na ang LPA sa loob ng PAR,” he added.
Once the LPA spotted east of northern Luzon becomes a tropical depression, Pagasa said it will be named “Fabian.”
However, it also said it does not expect the brewing storm to make landfall as it negotiates north-west and lingers over the Philippine Sea instead.
Still, Pagasa said, there could be another scenario where the tropical cyclone pulls or intensifies the already prevalent southwest monsoon on the western side of the country.
“Medyo mataas na ‘yong kanyang latitude so ‘yong kanyang pagkilos pa-hilagang kanluran, inaasahan na hindi na ito tatama sa anumang bahagi ng kalupaan ng ating bansa, and eventually patungo ‘yan sa may eastern side ng China,” Rojas said.
“Ang gagawin po niya ay hihilahin at palalakasin itong ating southwest monsoon at magdudulot ‘yan ng pag-ulan sa kanlurang bahagi ng ating bansa,” he explained.
For Friday, most parts of Luzon may still expect a fair weather condition except for Palawan, which may experience the effects of the southwest monsoon. And so, temperatures over Puerto Princesa may range from 25 to 31 degrees Celsius while it would be around 26 to 30 degrees Celsius over the Kalayaan Islands.
In contrast, Metro Manila, Laoag City, and Legazpi City may see something between 25 to 32 degrees Celsius; Baguio, 16 to 25 degrees Celsius; Tagaytay, 21 to 30 degrees Celsius; and Tuguegarao, 25 to 34 degrees Celsius.
Pagasa predicted that the intensified southwest monsoon may be felt by Sunday, with temperatures in Baguio City, Metro Manila, and Legazpi City dropping a notch by then.
The weather may also be fair over Visayas and Mindanao on Friday, although isolated rains may still be possible in these regions. Temperatures across Tacloban, Cebu, and Iloilo may hit within 25 to 31 degrees Celsius; Cagayan de Oro, 23 to 33 degrees Celsius; Zamboanga, 24 to 33 degrees Celsius; and Davao, 25 to 32 degrees Celsius.
Pagasa did not raise any gale warning but said sea conditions on the northern and eastern seaboards of Palawan and Mindoro will be moderate to rough due to the southwest monsoon while the whole northern and eastern seaboards of the country will be moderate.
Sea situation for the rest of the country will be slight to moderate, it added.