Low pressure area in Southern Luzon dissipates, one remains in Eastern Samar

MTSAT ENHANCED IR Satellite Image for 5:32 p.m., 25 June 2012

MANILA, Philippines – More rains are seen in the country in the next few days as a low pressure area that formed near Eastern Visayas was expected to become the fourth tropical cyclone for the country this year, the state weather bureau said Monday.

In its 5p.m. update, the remaining active low pressure area was seen 890 kilometers east of Borongan, Eastern Samar, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Another low pressure area that was monitored near south Luzon has dissipated, according to the agency.

Samuel Duran, a Pagasa forecaster, said there was a “high probability” that the disturbance near Samar could strengthen into a tropical cyclone.

If it becomes one, it will be named “Dindo,” he said.

So far, models indicated that the potential cyclone’s eye would not make landfall in the Philippines, just like the three previous storms this year. Duran said models forecast that the cyclone’s outer band would skim the extreme northern Luzon.

Pagasa said the low pressure areas have intensified the southwest monsoon over the Philippines. Duran said the system off Samar would generate downpours and overcast skies in eastern Luzon and Visayas.

Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will mostly have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy withn widespread rains over Bico, region and Eastern Visayas which may trigger flashflods and landslides, Pagasa said.

Northern Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, it added.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to south will prevail over Northern and Cental Luzon and coming from the southwest to west over southern Luzon and Visayas. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest with slight to moderate seas.

Originally posted at 07:24 am | Monday, June 25,  2012