LPA may dissipate, but Pagasa monitoring other cloud clusters outside PAR

MANILA, Philippines — The low-pressure area (LPA) spotted east of Bicol region is expected to evaporate once it hits land, although state meteorologists are still monitoring cloud clusters outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

Weather updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) showed that the LPA was last seen 100 kilometers east of Juban in Sorsogon.  It is not expected to intensify as a tropical depression, but it may still bring rains over the eastern portions of the country.

Meanwhile, cloud clusters southeast of Mindanao are being observed, as these may evolve into another LPA if conditions allow it to.

For Thursday, cloudy skies and rains will be experienced over northern Luzon due to the tail end of a frontal system, or the area where cold winds from the northeast monsoon and the warm, humid winds from the Pacific Ocean meet.

This in turn would bring rains over the Cagayan Valley region and other parts of northern Luzon.  Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or amihan continues to prevail over the extreme northern Luzon area.

Due to the combined effects of the rains, monsoon, cold front, temperatures in Tuguegarao would go down to 21 to 27 degrees Celsius, 23 to 29 degrees in Laoag, and 24 to 29 degrees in Legazpi where the LPA is being experienced.  For Metro Manila and Puerto Princesa, the weather will be fair and sunny at times, as temperatures would range from 24 to 31 degrees and 26 to 33 degrees, respectively.

The LPA is also expected to have an effect over Visayas and temperatures play between 25 to 30 degrees Celsius in Iloilo and Cebu, and 25 to 31 degrees in Tacloban.  It would be warm and humid in Mindanao with both Davao and Zamboanga feeling temperatures in the range of 24 to 33 degrees.

Gale warnings are still raised over the entire eastern and northern seaboards of Luzon, plus portions of the western coastlines from Ilocos Norte in Ilocos Region down to Bataan in Central Luzon.

Fisherfolk and boat transfer operators using small boats are not allowed to set sail due to rough to very rough sea conditions.

JPV