LPA outside PAR may intensify into tropical cyclone – Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has an even chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours, the state weather bureau said on Thursday.

In an early morning forecast, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather specialist Leanne Loreto said the LPA was spotted some 590 kilometers (km) west of Bacnotan, La Union at 3 a.m.

“There is an even chance that it will intensify into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours,” she said in Filipino.

READ: Pagasa: ‘Habagat’ season upon us, but heat to stay for a while

“This will move toward the Philippine area of responsibility boundary, moving northeast,” she added.

“This LPA won’t mainly trigger rains in the country, but it will pull the southwest monsoon towards the Northern and Central Luzon area,” she added.

Locally called “habagat,” the southwest monsoon is warm and moist winds originating from the southwest, which may bring rains to the western portion of the Philippines.

If the LPA enters the PAR and becomes a tropical cyclone, it will be given the local name Ester. /gsg