New LPA spotted off Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - A low-pressure area (LPA) spotted east of Mindanao yesterday is expected to bring rains over some parts of the country this weekend, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the low-pressure area has a good chance of intensifying into a cyclone within the next two to three days.

PAGASA said the new disturbance would be locally named “Nando” once it becomes a cyclone.

“This weather system will bring cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains over eastern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides,” PAGASA said in an advisory.

Eastern Visayas and the rest of Mindanao will also have scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, PAGASA said.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the low-pressure area was estimated at 640 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

PAGASA weather forecaster Joey Figuracion said if the low-pressure area intensifies into a cyclone and moves closer to the country, it will likely affect eastern Visayas and the Bicol region.

Figuracion added Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, and Mindanao will continue to experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

The low-pressure area entered the Philippine area of responsibility as some parts of Luzon remained flooded after days of heavy monsoon rains enhanced by Tropical Storm Maring early this week.

PAGASA also warned the public against big waves in the seaboards of northern and central Luzon and the western seaboard of southern Luzon.

PAGASA said Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, the northern coast of Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan will have rough to very rough seas with wave heights expected as high as five meters.

Rough to very rough seas will likewise prevail over Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, eastern coast of Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora with wave heights expected to reach 3.4 to 4.5 meters.

“Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out to the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” PAGASA said.