LPA may develop into storm, says Pagasa

A low pressure area was spotted east of Mindanao.

If it develops into a tropical depression, it would be the first storm of 2013 and would be named Auring once it enters the Philippines, said the state weather bureau.

According to Oscar Tabada, chief of the Pagasa Mactan weather station, there’s a 30 percen to 50 percent chance the weather disturbance would develop into a storm.

As of 2 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration monitored the low pressure area (LPA) embedded along the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) about 440 kilometers east of Mindanao.

Eastern Visayas, and the Caraga and Davao regions will experience cloudy skies.

Moderate to heavy rains may persist until Friday and trigger flashfloods and landslides.

The Caraga and Davao regions are still reeling from the devastation of typhoon Pablo which hit last Dec. 4.

A gale warning was issued in the waters off the eastern coasts of Visayas and Mindanao.

Water will be rough to very rough, with waves at 3.4 to 4.5 meters.

The rest of the Visayas and Mindanao will be cloudy with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

The northeast monsoon will bring cloudy skies with light rains in Cagayan Valley and the Quezon and Aurora provinces in Luzon./Correspondent Christine Emily Pantaleon