PAGASA Tracks Another LPA Outside PAR, Expects Fair Weather this Weekend

Manila(PNA) — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) has tracked another weather disturbance that may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that as of 4 a.m., the low pressure area (LPA) was spotted some at 1,020 km east of Borthern Mindanao (9.0ºN, 136.5ºE) and expected to enter PAR by Monday but will not directly affect the country.

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

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

Meanwhile, Aurelio said the LPA cited earlier has already dissipated due to its cloudiness and disorganized.

The weather bureau forecasts fair weather until 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.

For Friday forecast, Aurelio said Metro Manila, Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon and the province of Palawan will experience occasional rains.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

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

“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.

In its advisory, PAGASA 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 over the rest of Luzon and from the southwest to west over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas. (PNA) LGI/CLTC