Pagasa says cloud cluster outside PAR has chance to become LPA

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms caused by easterlies will prevail over Palawan, Caraga and Davao Region on Sunday, November 5, 2023. (Illustration courtesy of Pagasa)

MANILA, Philippines — A cloud cluster monitored outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has a chance of developing into a low-pressure area (LPA), the state weather bureau said on Sunday.

In an afternoon forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that no tropical cyclone will likely enter PAR this week, but the cloud cluster it spotted outside the country’s boundary may develop into an LPA.

“Meron po tayong namataan na cloud cluster dito po sa may labas ng PAR sa may silangan ng Mindanao. Unti unting lalapit itong cloud cluster na ito at hindi rin natin inaalis ang possibility na maging LPA ito sa mga susunod na araw,” weather specialist Benison Estareja said.

(We have spotted a cloud cluster here on the outskirts of PAR to the east of Mindanao. This cloud cluster will gradually approach, and we do not rule out the possibility that it will become an LPA in the next few days.)

He added that easterlies continue to affect and bring rain showers in parts of Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao tonight until Monday morning.

Aside from easterlies, isolated and localized thunderstorms, which last for two to three hours, will occur in western and central portions of Mindanao, particularly in the Zamboanga Peninsula and  Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as well as central and west parts of Visayas and Mindanao.

READ: Rain clouds to cover portions of Luzon and Mindanao, says Pagasa