Low pressure area seen off Eastern Samar; rains ahead–Pagasa

MTSAT ENHANCED IR Satellite Image for 7:32 a.m., 31 May 2012

MANILA, Philippines — Rains are expected in parts of the country as the active low pressure area that can intensify into a tropical depression has entered the Philippine area of responsibility, state weather forecasters said Thursday.

“Lumalaki yung chance niya para maging isang bagyo,” said Jori Loiz of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

He said if the active low pressure area could further enhance the southwest monsoon, then the rainy season could officially be declared.

Once it intensifies, the tropical depression will be named “Ambo,” the first tropical cyclone for 2012.

In its 5 a.m bulletin, the active low pressure area was seen 410 kilometers east of Borongan, Eastern Samar embedded along the intertropical convergence zone affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over the eastern section of Visayas and Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, Pagasa said.

Light to moderate winds blowing from the north to northwest will prevail over Luzon and coming from the southwest to west over Visayas and Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate, it added.