Weather satellite image from Pagasa’s website
MANILA, Philippines — There is a “moderate to high chance” that the approaching low pressure area (LPA) would intensify into a tropical depression or a weak storm, the state weather bureau said Thursday.
As of 3 a.m., the LPA that was bringing rain in Southern Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao was spotted 130 kilometers southeast of Cuyo, Palawan, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
“Base po sa tropical cyclone potential forecast ng Pagasa, inaasahang kikilos pakanluran ang nasabing LPA at meron tayong moderate to high chance na magiging isang tropical depression ito o mahinang bagyo,” Pagasa’s weather specialist Benson Estareja said.
(Based on Pagasa’s tropical cyclone potential forecast, the LPA is expected to move westward with a moderate to high chance of becoming a tropical depression or a weak typhoon.)
Estareja also said that if the LPA turns into a tropical depression, it will be named “Betty” – the second typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2023.
“Ngayong araw po ay inaasahang tatawirin nitong LPA ang Sulu Sea at ‘yung northern portion ng mainland Palawan. At tomorrow po, ang araw ng Friday, inaasahang mananatili ito sa West Philippine Sea, mabagal na pagkilos at nasa loob pa rin sa Philippine area of responsiblity hanggang sa weekend,” Estareja explained.
(Today, we expect the LPA to cross Sulu Sea and the northern portion of mainland Palawan. And tomorrow, Friday, we expect it to stay within the West Philippine Sea, moving slowly and remaining within the Philippine area of responsibility until the weekend.)
Meanwhile, Estareja noted that the probability of rain in parts of Luzon, including Palawan, Romblon, Bicol, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, and Catanduanes, is high. Thus, residents were warned of possible flooding and landslides as precipitation in these areas are anticipated to be light to moderate and at times heavy.
Hot and humid weather conditions, on the other hand, will persist in northern and central Luzon because of the dominance of the easterlies from the Pacific Ocean.
Thursday will be cloudy in Visayas and flooding due to rain is likewise possible, especially in Panay Island and Cebu, according to Pagasa. Landslides also due to rain are likewise possible in Eastern Visayas.
The state weather service further said that the LPA is expected to bring scattered rain and thunderstorms which may cause flooding in portions of Mindanao, including Zamboanga Peninsula, Surigao, and Dinagat Islands.
However, despite high chances of rain throughout the country, no gale warnings were raised by Pagasa over any of the country’s seaboards on Thursday.
As for the May 4 forecast temperature range in key cities/areas nationwide, the state weather bureau issued the following:
Luzon
- Metro Manila: 26 to 34 degrees Celsius
- Baguio City: 17 to 25 degrees Celsius
- Laoag City: 25 to 34 degrees Celsius
- Tuguegarao: 25 to 35 degrees Celsius
- Legazpi City: 26 to 29 degrees Celsius
- Puerto Princesa City: 27 to 32 degrees Celsius
- Tagaytay: 23 to 31 degrees Celsius
- Kalayaan Islands: 26 to 31 degrees Celsius
Visayas
- Iloilo City: 25 to 31 degrees Celsius
- Cebu: 25 to 29 degrees Celsius
- Tacloban City: 25 to 30 degrees Celsius
Mindanao
- Cagayan De Oro City: 25 to 30 degrees Celsius
- Zamboanga City: 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
- Davao City: 26 to 32 degrees Celsius
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