LPA to bring rains to eastern Luzon, Visayas

Pagasa weather forecaster Loriedin de la Cruz, in a 5 p.m. report on Saturday, said the LPA may develop into a tropical cyclone or tropical depression in the next 24 to 48 hours. (Photo from a video posted at the Pagasa Facebook page)

A low pressure area (LPA) already within the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has kicked off the rainy July season.

On the first day of the month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of a low pressure area spotted 1,050 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora as of 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Pagasa weather forecaster Loriedin de la Cruz, in a 5 p.m. report on Saturday, said the LPA may develop into a tropical cyclone or tropical depression in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Though the LPA’s center is far from the Philippine land mass as of Saturday evening, Pagasa expects the LPA to bring rains over the eastern side of Luzon and Visayas, as the LPA may enhance the prevailing southwest monsoon, de la Cruz said.

Cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms are expected this weekend over the regions of Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Western Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao and the provinces of Aurora, Quezon and Palawan.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country. De la Cruz advised the public in these areas to prepare for thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. /atm