PAGASA Eyes New LPA Near Mindanao

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday is keeping watch of low pressure area (LPA) that has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Connie Dadivas said that as of 4 a.m., the LPA was estimated to be 700 km east of Northern Mindanao (9.8°N, 132.5°E) embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

Dadivas said the weather disturbance remains far and won’t affect the country yet but by Friday it will bring rains in Luzon, including Bicol Region and the Visayas.

She said the agency’s numerical models continued to show that the weather disturbance has a slim chance to become a tropical depression but the agency continues monitoring it.

She said PAGASA still expects one to two more storms to hit the country before the end of the month.

She added that the next tropical cyclone that will visit the country will be named “Florita.”

Meanwhile, Dadivas said that except in western section of Luzon most parts of the country will continue to have fair weather on Wednesday.

She said southwest monsoon is affecting the western section of Luzon.

The southwest monsoon or “hanging habagat” — which is associated with the occurrence of intermittent to continuous rains — is the prevailing wind system during the rainy season.

For Wednesday forecast, PAGASA said Bataan, Zambales, Occidental Mindoro and Palawan will experience occasional rains while the rest of the country including Metro Manila will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

It added moderate to strong winds coming from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

Light to moderate winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Visayas and from the southwest to west over Mindanao with slight to moderate seas. (PNA) JBP/CLTC

Image Credit: PAGASA