New low pressure area spotted east of Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure area (LPA) was spotted outside the Philippine territory on Saturday but the weather bureau said it has little to no chance of developing into a tropical cyclone even as it is forecast to enter this weekend.

Based on its 4 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the LPA was last spotted at 1,130 kilometers east of Mindanao.

“We don’t see the LPA having the potential to become a tropical cyclone. So, we would remain tropical cyclone- and typhoon-free as we enter the incoming week,” Pagasa weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said on Saturday.

Its trough or extension continues to bring cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms in Eastern Visayas and Caraga regions, Ordinario said.

Scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms are expected in the Davao Region once the LPA nears the landmass.

This weekend, however, the LPA is forecast to enter the Philippine area of responsibility.

Ordinario said the LPA would bring rain in Northern Mindanao and the Visayas area by Monday or Tuesday.

The weather system would be in Palawan either on Wednesday or Thursday and possibly bring rain to the area, too, Ordinario added.

Cloudy skies with scattered light rain are still expected in some parts of Luzon including the Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region and some parts of Aurora province, due to the northeast monsoon or “amihan.”

Fair weather may be experienced on Sunday in Metro Manila and in other parts of Luzon, but with possibility of light rain also in the capital region, Central Luzon and several parts of northern Luzon, Ordinario said.