Potential LPA off Mindanao to trigger weekend rain showers

MANILA, Philippines — Cloud clusters spotted east of Mindanao may develop into a low-pressure area (LPA) and bring rains to many parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Friday. 

The cloud cluster may turn into LPA within 24 hours and enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), according to Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja.

“Hindi natin inaalis ang tiyansa na maging low pressure area ito sa loob ng 24 oras at pumasok din ng ating PAR,” Estareja said in an early morning update.

(We are not ruling out the possibility that it will become a low-pressure area within 24 hours and enter PAR.)

“At possible, sa mga unang araw Setyembre, ay magdala ito ng mga pag-ulan sa ating bansa, lalo na sa Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” he added.

(It may also trigger rains in the first few days of September in Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.)

Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan are forecast to have overcast skies and rain showers due to the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” on Friday.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms are expected in Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

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