2 low-pressure areas threaten RP

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned the public yesterday against flashfloods and landslides as rains would continue to prevail over Luzon and the Visayas in the next five days due to two low-pressure areas (LPAs).

Pagasa weather forecaster Nonoy About said the LPAs are located 90 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora and 70 kms west of Dagupan City or 80 kms northwest of Iba, Zambales.

Meanwhile, another low-pressure area was spotted at 940 kms east of Northern Mindanao.

However, About said it would not directly affect the country as it is expected to move towards the Pacific Ocean in the next 72 hours.

An LPA is commonly associated with bad weather. A tropical cyclone, if at sea, can be formed in such conditions.

About said the LPA located off Casiguran is likely to intensify into a tropical cyclone during the weekend.

“Luzon and Visayas will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over Eastern and Southern Luzon which may trigger flashfloods and landslides,” About said.

“The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening,” he said.

About said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast would prevail over the northern and eastern sections of Central Luzon and coastal waters along these areas would be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, light to moderate winds coming from the southwest and northeast would prevail with slight to moderate seas.

About also said the rainy season might start in the second half of May, which is the normal onset of the rainy season in the western section of the Philippines.

He said the LPAs are not strong enough to enhance the southwest monsoon, which is the prevailing wind system during the rainy season.

“Based on latest forecasts, we will have a normal onset of the rainy season,” About said.