Trough of TD Outside PAR to Bring Rains Over Visayas, Mindanao Wednesday – PAGASA

(PNA) – It is is rainy in some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao on Wednesday due to the trough or extended cloudiness of the tropical cyclone which is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Alvin Pura said as of 4 a.m. the tropical depression(TD) outside the PAR was estimated based on all available data at 1,610 km East of Mindanao (9.0°N, 141.0°E), packed with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph.

Pura said the tropical depression is expected to enter PAR by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, and once it enters, it will be locally named “Amang,” the first tropical depression to affect the country this year.

Since Pope Francis will be in the country on Thursday, Pura noted that the weather disturbance will not affect the arrival of the Pope in Metro Manila but when he visits Eastern Visayas on Saturday, expect rains as the tropical depression moves closer.

He added that as the TD continues to move, it is expected to recurve near the Bicol area and will affect the eastern section of the country.

Pura also said the TD has a slim chance to make a landfall but still continues to dump rains. It is also expected to intensify into a tropical storm category.

For Wednesday forecast, Pura said the region of Caraga and the Provinces of Leyte and Bohol will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains with possible occurrence of thunderstorms.

With the presence of the northeast monsoon affecting Luzon, Pura said Cagayan Valley and Cordillera will have cloudy skies with light rains while the rest of Luzon including Metro Manila will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated light rains.

He added the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains with possible occurrence of thunderstorms.

PAGASA also moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and from the northeast to north over Mindanao with moderate to rough seas.

The state-run weather bureau also issued a gale warning as the sea condition will be rough to very rough due to strong to gale force winds is expected to affect the Northern and Eastern seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Visayas.

”Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned. (PNA) FPV/CLTC