The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration is monitoring a low-pressure area east of Mindanao that may bring rains over the eastern part of the country in the next few days.
PAGASA weather specialist Ariel Rojas said the LPA was estimated 2,500 kilometers east of Mindanao yesterday morning. The weather disturbance is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility but could enter the country by Sunday, he added.
The LPA has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone as of the moment, Rojas pointed out, but will likely move near the landmass and bring rains over Visayas and Mindanao in the next few days.
He advised the public to continue monitoring updates regarding this weather disturbance for possible changes in the forecast.
This weekend, the northeast monsoon, easterlies, and localized thunderstorms will be the dominant weather systems across the country.
Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Aurora, Quezon, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino may experience light rains with possible intermittent wind gusts in the coastal and mountainous communities due to the surge of the amihan.
It could also bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, except for the Bicol region.
The warm and humid easterly winds originating from the Pacific may bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, and Masbate.
The rest of Visayas and Mindanao may experience warm weather in the morning with chances of rain showers due to localized thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening. Flooding or landslides in hazard-prone areas are likely during severe thunderstorms.
A gale warning is in effect due to rough to very rough seas triggered by the surge of amihan. Fishing boats and other small sea craft were advised not to set sail into the seas of Batanes, Babuyan, and Calayan.
Larger sea vessels should remain alert against big waves. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)
