LPA, ITCZ to Bring Rains over Visayas, Mindanao Until Weekend

Manila (PNA) — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday is keeping watch of low pressure area (LPA) already inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Chris Perez said as of 4 a.m. the LPA was spotted some 470 km east of Virac, Catanduanes (13.5ºN, 129.0ºE).

He added the LPA is embedded in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Visayas.

The ITCZ is considered as breeding ground for LPAs or potential cyclones.

He 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.

Aurelio said PAGASA still expects two to three more storms to enter the country before the end of the month.

He noted that the next tropical cyclone that will visit the country will be named “Kanor.”

Aurelio said that while the ITCZ oscillates near Visayas it may also induce cloudy skies with light to moderate rains over Palawan, Visayas and the regions of Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern Mindanao until weekend.

On the other hand, Aurelio noted that the rest of the country including Metro Manila will continue to experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with possible isolated rains due to localized thunderstorms until Sunday.

According to Aurelio, the convective activity brought about by intense heat triggers the formation of more cumulonimbus clouds or dark clouds associated with thunderstorms that brings rains in the afternoon or evening.

In its advisory, PAGASA said light to moderate winds blowing from the northeast to north will prevail over Luzon and coming from the southwest to south over the rest of the country.

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate. (PNA) JBP/CLTC