Trough of LPA brings scattered rains over parts of Mindanao

Photo: Pagasa satellite image as of Feb. 20, 8:50 a.m. Screengrab from Pagasa website

MANILA, Philippines — The trough of a low pressure area (LPA) off Mindanao will continue to bring scattered rains in parts of the island, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Sunday.

Aside from the LPA’s trough, the northeast monsoon, locally known as amihan, and easterlies affect the country.

“Patuloy ang epekto ng iba’t ibang weather systems sa ating bansa kabilang na diyan ang northeast monsoon or amihan sa northern and central Luzon,” Pagasa weather specialist

Benison Estareja said during the public weather forecast.

(The effect of different weather systems prevail, including the northeast monsoon in northern and central Luzon.)

The LPA’s trough, along with the easterlies, will cause cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Mindanao, particularly Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

The amihan, meanwhile, will dump light rains over Cagayan Valley, and isolated light rains over Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Central Luzon.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms brought by the easterlies.

A gale warning is raised over Batanes, Cagayan, and Ilocos Norte, wherein waves may rise up to 5.5 meters.

“Unti-unti pa rin pong lumalakas ang ating amihan or northeast monsoon kaya’t mayroon na tayong gale warning,” Estareja said.

(The northeast monsoon gradually intensifies, which is why there is a gale warning.)

There is still a low chance of having a tropical cyclone inside the country, Pagasa said.

“For this week, mababa muli ang tsansa na magkaroon tayo ng isang bagyo sa loob ng (there is still a low chance of having a tropical cyclone inside the) Philippine Area of Responsibility,” said Estareja.

EDV