MANILA, Philippines — A newly formed low pressure area (LPA) will bring rain across the Visayas, the Bicol region and Zamboanga Peninsula on Thursday, according to the state weather bureau.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that while the LPA east of the Visayas is unlikely to intensify into a tropical depression, it may strengthen the southwest monsoon tor “habagat” that has affected Luzon since Monday.
“Minomonitor natin ang isang low pressure area sa silangan ng Visayas, particularly Guiuan, Eastern Samar, 180 kilometers away. In the next 24 hours, mababa ang tsansa na ito ay maging isang bagyo,” said Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estreja.
(We are monitoring a low pressure area east of the Visayas, particularly Guiuan, Eastern Samar, 180 kilometers away. There is a low chance of it becoming a tropical depression in the next 24 hours.)
According to Estreja, the LPA will trigger rain showers in the Bicol region, Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula until the weekend.
Flashfloods and landslides are also possible, the state weather bureau warned.Cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon and localized thunderstorms are expected in Metro Manila and the rest of the country, Pagasa added.
Pagasa also said that they are monitoring a tropical depression outside the Philippine area of responsibility, northwest of Batanes.
With a wind speed of 45 km per hour, it is considered as a weak tropical depression and is unlikely to affect the country.
Pagasa added that no gale warning is in effect.