PAGASA: LPA may become tropical cyclone by Saturday

MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure area off Surigao del Sur which is now bringing rains over a wide area in the country may intensify into a tropical cyclone by Saturday, state weather service PAGASA said.

Should the weather disturbance last spotted 610 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur become a tropical cyclone, it will be the 18th inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and will be named Rosal.

While it is not yet a tropical cyclone, the LPA is already making itself felt in Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao where it is bringing rain showers.

PAGASA forecasts that the LPA will move west northwest in the next 24 hours moving close to the Caraga region and Eastern Visayas.

By Saturday, it will be closest to Northern Samar and Bicol. The next day, PAGASA said it will be at the east of Quezon and Aurora provinces and will start to move north and be near Cagayan by Monday.

A shear line or the convergence of hot and cold air is dumping rain in the northern portion of the country, particularly over the Ilocos region, causing flooding, PAGASA said. — Xave Gregorio