Rain expected as low pressure area approaches PH

Satellite Image-3:01 PM-December 27. SCREENGRAB from pagasa.dost.gov.ph.

MANILA—With a low pressure area moving closer to the Philippines, the weather bureau expects rain in most parts of the country, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Saturday that as long as the low pressure area was over the Philippine Sea it could develop into a tropical cyclone.

Weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that, no matter how small the chance, there was a possibility the low pressure area would intensify into a tropical depression, in which case it would be named “Seniang.”

As of 10 a.m. Saturday, the low pressure area was located 630 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

The amihan or northeast monsoon prevailing over Northern and Central Luzon, he said, would make it dangerous for fishing boats and other small vessels to venture out to sea off the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the eastern coast of the Visayas because of strong to gale-force winds.

Aurelio warned bigger vessels that waves that could reach up to 4.5 meters.

According to Pagasa’s forecast for Sunday, the Bicol, Caraga, Davao, Nortern Mindanao and the Eastern Visayas regions as well as Quezon province will be cloudy with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms while the regions of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, and Central Luzon, as well as the provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region are expected to have cloudy skies with light rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms.