Pagasa monitoring 3 weather systems

MANILA, Philippines — At least three weather systems are being monitored including a low-pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine area of responsibility or PAR, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

The LPA outside PAR was located 1,845 kilometers east of Visayas and is expected to enter the country today, according to PAGASA weather specialist Daniel James Villamil.

PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja added that the trough of the LPA could bring rains to Visayas and Mindanao.

“By the middle of this week, we expect areas in the eastern side of the country to be affected by the trough or outer portion of the low-pressure area. We expect rains in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Caraga,” he added.

Estareja said that while the southwest monsoon continues to affect the country, it is expected to weaken as the northeast monsoon season sets in by the end of October.

“It is not necessarily cool, it is less hot. We still do not expect amihan. The lower temperature will be felt in December,” he said.

According to Estareja, while there are fewer typhoons in the latter part of the year, there is a big chance of landfall.

Aside from the LPA, the state bureau is also observing Typhoon Koinu (formerly Typhoon Jenny) and Tropical Storm Bolaven (international name) outside PAR, Villamil said.

“Typhoon Koinu was located at 725 km west of extreme Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 155 km per hour and gustiness of 190 km per hour as it is almost stationary,” he said.

Villamil added that Bolaven was located 3,045 km east of Visayas with maximum sustained winds of 65 km per hour and gustiness of 80 kph.

“It is moving slowly westward. We do not expect it to enter PAR in the next hours and it has no direct effect on our country,” he said.