Cloudy skies, rain showers on Thursday in PH due to LPA, ‘amihan’

MANILA, Philippines – Cloudy skies, scattered rain showers, and thunderstorms due to the low-pressure area that once was Tropical depression Querubin will prevail in Eastern Visayas and the Caraga region in Mindanao on Thursday, the state weather bureau said.

In its 4:00 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the LPA was last spotted some 245 kilometers east of Surigao del Norte.

“Dahil kapansin-pansin na gumaganda yung circulation nito at nananatili pa rin sa mainit na karagatan, mataas muli ang tsansa na itong low-pressure area ay maging isang mahinang bagyo or tropical depression within the next 24 hours,” Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja said.

(Since its circulation is noticeably improving and it remains over warm waters, there is a big chance that this low-pressure area could develop into a weak storm or tropical depression within the next 24 hours.)

Possible Querubin comeback

The LPA will once again be named “Querubin” should it reintensify into a tropical depression, he added.

Querubin weakened into an LPA on Wednesday afternoon, Pagasa previously reported.

“Nag-weaken siya kahapon and then kung sakali man, siya pa rin po ‘yon. Same naman ‘yung circulation na minomonitor natin,” Pagasa weather specialist Ana Clauren told INQUIRER.net on Thursday.

(It [Querubin] weakened yesterday, so if it reintensifies, it will still be the same weather system. The circulation we are monitoring is still the same.)

Estareja likewise noted that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals may also be raised as soon as the LPA reintensifies into a tropical depression.

LPA trough

Meanwhile, the trough or extension of the LPA is forecast to affect the rest of Visayas and Mindanao.

Cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms are expected in these areas, according to Estareja.

“Habang may trough ng low-pressure area or potential disturbance sa may Aklan, Capiz, dito rin po sa may Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, Misamis provinces, Camiguin, at natitirang bahagi pa po ng Caraga Region,” he enumerated.

(While the trough of the low-pressure area or potential disturbance affects Aklan, Capiz, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, Misamis provinces, Camiguin, and the remaining areas of the Caraga region.)

Estareja further explained that other weather systems are also affecting conditions in areas of the country not impacted by the LPA.

Cloudy with rain showers in Metro Manila

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will see partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains on Thursday due to the northeast monsoon, or amihan, he said.

“Mananatili pa rin ang may kalamigang panahon dito sa may Northern, Central Luzon, at Metro Manila, na sasamahan din ng mga light to moderate rains, epekto pa rin ‘yan ng amihan,” Estareja underscored.

(Cool weather will persist in Northern and Central Luzon, as well as Metro Manila, accompanied by light to moderate rains due to the continued effects of the northeast monsoon.)

Estareja said that the shear line may also bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the Bicol region and Quezon.

Rough seas alert!

Pagasa issued a gale warning over the seaboards of extreme northern Luzon, including coastal areas of Batanes, the northern coast of Cagayan, the Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte.