Pagasa warns of floods, landslides due to low pressure area

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The state weather bureau alerted residents of Mindanao and Visayas to possible flash floods and landslides in light of heavy rains induced by a low-pressure area  hovering east of the Philippines.

As of mid-Saturday, the weather disturbance was observed some 460 kilometers east of General Santos City, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

“This weather system will bring cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms over Mindanao, Leyte provinces, Negros provinces and Bohol, which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” Pagasa said in an advisory.

“Residents are advised to take all the necessary precautionary measures,” it added.

Pagasa also cautioned fishermen using small boats against venturing out to sea due to big waves generated by “strong to gale force northeasterly surface wind flow associated with the surge of the northeast monsoon” or “hanging amihan,” cold winds from Siberia.

The northeast monsoon is expected to continue affecting northern and eastern Luzon, Visayas, Caraga region, Misamis provinces, Zamboanga del Norte and Davao Oriental.

According to Pagasa’s 24-hour weather outlook, the regions of Caraga and Davao will experience cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms, which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

Visayas and the rest of Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms, it added.

Cagayan Valley and the province of Aurora will be cloudy with light rains, while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, Pagasa said.