Possible LPA spotted east of PH; monsoon rains expected

MANILA, Philippines —  A cloud cluster in the eastern section of the country may develop into a low-pressure area (LPA) and enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), the state weather bureau said on Thursday.

The cloud cluster, along with the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” will bring rainfall to most parts of the country, according to Benison Estareja, weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

“Patuloy naman natin mino-monitor itong cloud clusters o kumpol ng ulap dito sa may silangan ng ating bansa,” said Estareja in a public weather forecast.

(We are continuously monitoring cloud clusters in the eastern section of the country.)

“Posible na may mabuong low pressure area dyan sa mga susunod na araw, at pumasok ng ating Philippine area of responsibility,” Estareja added.

(It may develop into a low pressure in the coming days and enter the Philippine area of responsibility.)

Estareja said rains are expected in eastern portions of the country, particularly in the Caraga and Davao regions in Mindanao, due to these cloud clusters.

Likewise, he said that Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan would also see occasional rains due to southwest monsoon, or “habagat.”

Overcast skies, scattered rain showers, and thunderstorms are expected in Metro Manila, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, and the rest of Mimaropa (Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), according to Pagasa’s 4 a.m. update.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms are expected for the rest of the country.

Pagasa did not raise gale warnings over any of the country’s seaboards.