New storm a possibility, says Pagasa

Source: Project Noah | 6:01 am, January 2, 2013

MANILA, Philippines–With a low pressure area (LPA) spotted east of Mindanao and expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday, the weather bureau has issued a forecast specifically for Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, two provinces hardest hit last month by Typhoon “Pablo.”

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecasters anticipate the LPA will develop into a tropical cyclone as it approaches the PAR.

Forecaster Samuel Duran told the Inquirer the LPA could still go two ways: Dissipate or develop into a tropical cyclone.

He said the special weather forecast issued for Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental was intended to warn residents of the two provinces to brace for a possible tropical cyclone that could affect Mindanao.

According to Duran, based on the special forecast, the weather in the two provinces today will be cloudy with light to moderate (1 mm to 5 mm per hour) rains.

Winds from the northeast are expected to be light to moderate with slight to moderate sea conditions.

An extended weather outlook anticipates the Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental to experience cloudy skies on Thursday with moderate to heavy (2 mm to 10 mm per hour) rains. By Friday, the provinces will be cloudy with light to moderate rains.

Duran said that should the LPA evolve into a tropical cyclone, it would be named “Auring.”

In its 5 p.m. forecast, Pagasa said Metro Manila, the Cagayan Valley and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will experience cloudy skies with light rains brought by the amihan (northeast monsoon) affecting Luzon. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy with brief rainshowers or thunderstorms.