LPA Has ‘High Chance’ to Become Tropical Depression; Rains Expected over Visayas, Mindanao

(PNA) — The low pressure area inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) will continue to bring rains in most parts of Visayas and Mindanao on Thursday, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Chris Perez said that as of 4 a.m. the LPA was spotted 560 km east of Legazpi City (13.3°N, 128.9°E) and is embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) across Visayas.

He said the LPA has high chance to intensify into tropical depression but the agency continues to monitor it.

Perez said the presence of LPA and ITCZ will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and the provinces of Mindoro and Palawan.

He added the rest of country, including Metro Manila, will experience fair weather with partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms.

He said in the coming days, rains are to be expected in western side of the country due to southwest monsoon enhanced by the weather disturbance.

Perez said they continue to monitor the tropical storm with international name Chan-Hom and the other LPA outside the PAR.

He said that either the tropical storm or LPA is expected to enter the country next week but will not have direct affect to the country though it would enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains in the country.

Once the tropical storm enter the country, it will be locally named “Egay”, the fourth tropical cyclone to affect the country this year.

He said the track of the tropical storm will be upward, it will exit as soon as it enters PAR and is not expected to make landfall but will enhance the southwest monsoon.

In its advisory, PAGASA said light to moderate winds blowing from the southwest will prevail throughout the archipelago with slight to moderate seas.

The weather bureau has not issued gale warning which means fisherfolks are safe to venture into the sea. (PNA) JBP/CLTC