Rains seen on Jose Rizal’s 150th birthday

MANILA, Philippines – Rains are expected in Sunday’s hometown rites to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of national hero Jose Rizal as the weather bureau expects the lingering low pressure area east of Mindanao to develop into a tropical depression.

Graciano Yumul, supervising science undersecretary for Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said that “by all indications,” the low pressure area has been developing into a tropical depression.  The fifth such weather system to enter the Philippines will be called Egay, according to Pagasa.

Yumul said on Thursday that the low pressure area’s cloud formation appeared to be “continuing towards tropical depression development by tomorrow [Friday],” with Rizal’s hometown of Calamba expected to be wet on Sunday.

Monitoring by the Pagasa showed that the LPA was located some 410 kilometers east of Mindanao as of 8 a.m. on Thursday.

“The weather systems are expected to bring scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms over Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao becoming widespread rains over Eastern and Southern Mindanao, which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” said Pagasa in its advisory.

The LPA has been affecting Mindanao since last week.

Luzon will be overcast, with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms expected from the afternoon until the evening.