LPA near Mindanao being monitored by Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) is monitoring a low pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), which may develop into a tropical depression by Tuesday.

As of 3 p.m. on Monday, Pagasa said the LPA was located 225 kilometers east southeast of Tagum City in Davao del Norte.

Weather Specialist Daniel James Villamil said the LPA was embedded inside the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) currently affecting Mindanao.

The combined effects of the LPA and ITCZ will cause cloudy skies and scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Mindanao as well as the central and eastern portions of the Visayas, he added.

The LPA is also expected to cause moderate to heavy rainfall on Tuesday over Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental.

The amount of rainfall, Pagasa said, could cause localized flooding, particularly in areas that are urbanized, low-lying or near rivers, as well as landslides in highly susceptible areas. —Gillian Villanueva