LPA spotted east of Mindanao may intensify into cyclone; to enter PAR next week

Pagasa, weather report, weather update

MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure area (LPA) far east of Mindanao may intensify into a tropical cyclone and could enter the Philippine area of responsibility by either Monday or Tuesday next week, the country’s weather bureau said on Friday.

Weather updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) showed that the LPA was spotted at 2,400 kilometers east of Mindanao.

As of current forecast, the LPA may traverse areas in Visayas and Southern Luzon should it cross the archipelago.

“Ating babantayan ang nasabing low pressure are dahil base nga sa ating forecast model, posible itong dumaan dito sa may Visayas and Southern Luzon area by next  week,” weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said.

(We would monitor the said low pressure area because based on our forecast model, it may traverse parts of the Visayas and Southern Luzon area by next week.)

On the other hand, thick clouds still remain over huge parts of Visayas and some portions on Mindanao which can possibly bring rains and thunderstorms over the weekend.

The clouds that were seen lying along the shearline would cause the rainfall over Eastern and Central Visayas, as well as some parts of Northern Mindanao.

Rains are also possible in parts of Luzon including Metro Manila, but this is due to the northeast monsoon or amihan, which would also cause colder than usual nights and mornings in the northern part of the country.

For Saturday, rains may occur over Cagayan Valley due to the amihan, which would result in colder temperatures, ranging from 20 to 26 degrees Celsius over Tuguegarao, 20 to 31 degrees in Laoag, 11 to 23 degrees in Baguio, 22 to 32 degrees in Metro Manila, 19 to 28 degrees over Tagaytay, 25 to 30 degrees in Legazpi, and 25 to 32 degrees in Puerto Princesa.

For Visayas and Mindanao, temperatures on the eastern side would be colder, as Tacloban and Cagayan de Oro would have something around 24 to 26 degrees Celsius, and 25 to 30 degrees, respectively, while Cebu would have something around 25 to 29 degrees.

In contrast, Iloilo would be warm at 26 to 30 degrees Celsius, Zamboanga with 25 to 33 degrees, and Davao with 25 to 31 degrees.

A gale warning is still raised over the entire seaboard of the Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, the whole Cagayan Valley down to Bicol Region, and the eastern coastlines of Visayas and Caraga region.

Similar warnings were issued over waters off Northern Palawan, southern Mindoro, and west and north of the Panay island.

JPV