Pagasa watches LPA, sees rain

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 3 a.m., 08 January 2013

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Monday alerted residents of Mindanao, particularly in the Davao and central regions, to rains that could trigger flashfloods and landslides.

The weather bureau warned in its 11 a.m. advisory that the low pressure area (LPA) embedded along the intertropical convergence zone affecting the region would bring moderate to heavy (5 mm to 15 mm per hour) rains and thunderstorms, particularly in the Davao and Soccsksargen, made up of the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City, regions advising residents to take all the necessary precautionary measures.

Forecaster Rose Marasigan told the Philippine Daily Inquirer the weather bureau was closely monitoring the LPA, which at 4 p.m. Monday was estimated to be 360 km southeast of Davao City, as there was the possibility it could develop into a tropical cyclone.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with brief rainshowers or thunderstorms.