LPA Has High Chance to Develop Into Tropical Cyclone; Expected to Enter PAR Monday –PAGASA

Manila (PNA) — The low-pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has a high chance to develop into a tropical cyclone and is expected to enter the country by Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday afternoon.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Fernando Cada said that as of 4 p.m., the LPA was spotted some 920 kilometers east of Mindanao (8.0ºN, 135.8ºE).

He also said the LPA has a high chance to develop into a tropical cyclone. Once it develops into a tropical depression, it will be locally named “Inday” — the ninth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.

Every year, an average of 18 to 20 storms affect the Philippines, according to PAGASA.

Cada said fair weather is expected until the weekend as the southwest monsoon or “hanging habagat” affecting Luzon — which is associated with the occurrence of intermittent to continuous rains — is the prevailing wind system during the rainy season.

In the next 24-hour forecast, Cada said the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region and the provinces of Zambales and Bataan will experience occasional rains while the regions of Caraga and Davao will be cloudy with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

He added that Metro manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA also said moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over the western section of Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest to west over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas.

The state weather bureau also issued gale warning as strong to gale force winds associated with the surge of the southwest monsoon affecting the western seaboard of Luzon.

“Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned. (PNA) SCS/CLTC/EJIS/FGF (Trainees)