MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 1 a.m., 30 July 2013
MANILA, Philippines—The low pressure area (LPA) being monitored by the weather bureau may develop into a tropical cyclone on its way out of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) but it could still bring rains to the western part of the country.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecasters reminded residents of Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romlon, Palawan) and Western Visayas to brace for possible flashfloods and landslides triggered by moderate to occasionally heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms caused by the LPA and the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).
Forecaster Fernando Cada said that as of 4 p.m. Monday, the LPA was estimated at 160 kilometers west-northwest of Coron, Palawan, embedded along the ITCZ.
He said that should it continue to move toward the West Philippine Sea and away from the country, it could develop into a tropical cyclone by Wednesday.
Cada told the Inquirer that although already moving out of the PAR, the LPA may enhance the habagat (southwest monsoon) and bring rains over the western section of southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
“Even if it is moving away from the country, we expect a large area of Luzon to be cloudy until Friday. That could mean light rains and thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening,” he said.
He added that improving weather conditions are seen to prevail over the Visayas and Mindanao toward the weekend. Jeannette I. Andrade