More rains expected even as low pressure moves away

MANILA, Philippines—The state weather bureau said Thursday there was only a slim chance for a low-pressure area east of Luzon to develop into a storm but warned that monsoon rains would likely persist throughout the country.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the low pressure area was already on its way out of the country as of mid-Thursday, heading toward southern China.

But it would continue enhancing the southwest monsoon that is affecting the western sections of Luzon, Pagasa forecaster Chris Perez said.

As of early Thursday, the low pressure area was observed some 245 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora and was expected to leave by evening.

Perez said there would be gradual improvement of weather on Friday but added that the public should still expect monsoon rains.

According to Pagasa’s weather outlook for Friday, Central Luzon and the provinces of Quezon, Pangasinan, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela and the Batanes group of islands would experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms that may trigger flash floods and landslides.

Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Western Visayas and the Caraga region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms, it added.

The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, Pagasa said.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to south will prevail over the entire archipelago and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough, it said.