Weathermen monitor low pressure area in Sulu Sea

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 3 p.m., 22 November 2013

MANILA, Philippines—A low-pressure area spotted in the Sulu Sea off Palawan is expected to bring rain to the island province and cloudy skies to most parts of the country over the weekend, the state weather bureau said Friday.

The low pressure area is located 220 kilometers south of Puerto Princesa City as of mid-Friday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

The weather disturbance would continue to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms to Palawan while cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms would prevail over Eastern Visayas and Mindanao, it said.

Pagasa said the surge of the northeast monsoon, or cold winds from Siberia, would affect the north and eastern coasts of Luzon and Eastern Visayas.

“Hence, small sea craft and fishing vessels are advised not to venture out into the sea due to the big waves generated by this weather system,” the weather bureau said.

According to Pagasa’s 24-hour weather outlook, the Bicol region, Southern Palawan, the Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.

Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera Administrative Region, and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will be cloudy with rains, it added.

Metro Manila, the Ilocos region and the rest of Central Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains. The rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rains, it said.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and the Visayas and coastal waters in these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast with slight to moderate seas, Pagasa said.