By ALEXANDRIA DENNISE SAN JUAN
A low-pressure area (LPA) near Palawan and the southwest monsoon or “habagat” are expected to bring rains across the country this weekend, the State weather bureau said today.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA, which was spotted 310 kilometers west-northwest of Coron, Palawan this morning, and the southwest monsoon will continue to affect Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin dela Cruz said cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga due to the two weather systems.
The State weather agency advised residents in these areas that flash floods or landslides may occur due to scattered moderate to at times heavy rains.
The LPA is still likely to develop into a tropical cyclone, but if it does, Dela Cruz said it would be on its way out or already outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as it is currently moving over the West Philippine Sea.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers is expected due to localized thunderstorms in the Davao region, Socsargen, and BARMM.
The northeasterly surface windflow will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains over Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley.
PAGASA is monitoring typhoon “Chan-Hom” (international name) which is still outside PAR at 1,585 kilometers northeast of extreme Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the eye and gusts of up to 160 kph.
While the typhoon is near the boundary of the country’s area of responsibility, Dela Cruz said that it is not expected to enter PAR and will continue to move north northeast at 15 kph.
Dela Cruz added that Chan-hom will not have a significant effect on the country’s weather as it is very far from the landmass.
