LPA off Mindanao may intensify into tropical cyclone in 48 hours – Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines – The low pressure area (LPA) last sighted some 925 kilometers (km) east of southeastern Mindanao may intensify into a tropical cyclone within the next 48 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Saturday afternoon.

The state weather bureau said that if the LPA intensifies into a tropical cyclone, it will be locally known as “Kabayan,” the 11th tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine area of responsibility.

“Ito ay hindi natin inaalis ang posibilidad na maging isang ganap na bagyo within the next 48 hours at ito’y tatawagan nating Kabayan,” Pagasa weather forecaster Chenel Dominguez said.

(We are not ruling out the possibility that the LPA may develop into a tropical cyclone within the next 48 hours, and it will be called Kabayan.)

Parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila and Tuguegarao may experience cloudy skies and rain showers due to the northeast monsoon or “amihan,” while Legazpi City may experience rains due to a shear line.

Dominguez added that parts of Eastern Visayas and Mindanao may have isolated rains due to the combined effects of the shear line and the LPA.

“Asahan natin na makakaranas sila ng mga pag-ulan at posibilidad ng mga flash floods,” Dominguez said.

(Parts of Eastern Visayas and Mindanao may experience rains and flash floods.)