Pagasa: Expect weekend rains due to LPA, ‘amihan’

MANILA, Philippines — The low pressure area (LPA) off Surigao del Sur is expected to continue to bring overcast skies and rains to the Bicol region and the entire Visayas and Mindanao on Friday, the state weather bureau said.

As of 3:00 am Friday, the LPA was located some 140 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur and inside the Philippine area of responsibility, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja said the LPA is “almost stationary”, but on Saturday, the center of the LPA will move towards Visayas and Mindanao.

“Kita po sa ating satellite image itong malaking sirkulasyon ng LPA, ibig sabihin malaking bahagi pa din ng Southern Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao ang magkakaroon ng pag-ulan ngayon araw,” Estareja said.

“Base naman po sa tinatahak ng LPA ngayong araw, almost stationary or halos hindi kikilos itong nasabing LPA. Then bukas inaasahan, lalo sa broad circulation nito, somewhere between Visayas and Mindanao na yung sentro ng low pressure area,” he continued.

(Based on the LPA’s track, it is almost stationary. By Saturday, due to its broad circulation, the center of the LPA will be somewhere between Visayas and Mindanao.)

The LPA will bring cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rain showers and thunderstorms to Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Negros Occidental, Albay, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes.

 Likewise, the Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Mimaropa (Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) regions and the rest of Western Visayas, the rest of Bicol region, and Quezon are expected to have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms also due to the LPA.

Amihan, rough seas alert!

Meanwhile, Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, the rest of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), and Aurora will also have cloudy skies with rains, but due to the northeast monsoon or “amihan.”

Pagasa also raised gale warnings over several areas affected by the “amihan.”

Rough to very rough seas (2.8 to 4.5 meter waves) are expected on the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, including the northern And eastern coasts of Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the northern coast of Camarines Sur, the northern and eastern coasts of Catanduanes, the eastern coast of Albay, the eastern coast of Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, the eastern coast of Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, and the eastern coast of Surigao Del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands.

The eastern coast of Cagayan, Isabela, and Aurora will also have rough sea conditions (2.8 to 4.0 meter waves.)

 “Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” Pagasa said.

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