Expect more rains, says Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines—The bursts of afternoon thunderstorms in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in the past few days were triggered by the inter-tropical convergence zone and a low pressure area (LPA) embedded in it, the weather bureau said Sunday.

The two rain-inducing weather systems will continue to bring scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms in central and southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in the next few days.

“These areas, including the National Capital Region, would be mostly cloudy,’’ said Supervising Undersecretary Graciano Yumul of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, or Pagasa.

Widespread rains, however, are expected over eastern Visayas and eastern Mindanao that may trigger flashfloods and landslides, Pagasa said, advising the national disaster coordinating councils to monitor the weather disturbance.

The LPA was spotted over the Philippine Sea 570 kilometers east of Visayas around 8 a.m. Sunday, forecaster Samuel Duran said.

“If it develops into a storm, it will enhance the southwest monsoon,’’ Duran said by phone.

In its outlook for the month, Pagasa said that two to three cyclones would swirl into the Philippine area of responsibility, including one typhoon expected to cross northern Luzon.

The southwest monsoon and tropical cyclone occurrences are expected to peak this month, it said. “Wet conditions are likely,’’ it said.

So far there’s no sign of a tropical cyclone yet, it added.