LPA expected to bring rain to Visayas, Mindanao

Satellite Image, June 25, 2014, 05:32 pm.   SCREENGRAB from noah.dost.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines — The weather bureau expects a potential cyclone, which formed Wednesday morning within the country’s area of responsibility, to bring rains that could trigger floods and landslides in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

But the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services and Administration said that there only a slim chance that the low pressure area would develop into a tropical depression in the next two days.

Forecaster Alvin Pura said that as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the low pressure area was some  520 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and  was expected to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms to the Central and the Eastern Visayas, as well as in the Davao and Caraga regions, by Thursday.

The downpours could trigger flashfloods and landslides, he said, advising residents and disaster risk reduction and management councils in the areas to take the necessary precautions.

Pura pointed out that the low pressure area could either intensify into a tropical depression, which would be named “Florita,” or dissipate as it approaches the country’s land mass.

The forecaster said that should the weather disturbance move north, it could enhance the southwest monsoon  and give Luzon a rainy weekend.

According to Pagasa’s forecast for Thursday, the Bicol region and the Visayas and Mindanao would experience light to moderate rains and thunderstorms while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon are expected to be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds will prevail over Luzon, where coastal waters will be moderate to rough, while light to moderate winds will prevail over the Visayas and Mindanao with slight to moderate seas.

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