LPA may bring rains in Metro, other areas

MANILA, Philippines — The low-pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) may bring rains to Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Mimaropa areas starting Wednesday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said the LPA was located 995 kilometers east of the Visayas.

“Based on our data, at present, there is still a small chance it will develop into a typhoon but it continues to move towards the Visayas and Bicol region, and we expect that the LPA will bring rains particularly in many parts of the Visayas and Southern Luzon,” Badrina said.

He added that aside from the LPA, a shear line will also affect certain areas in Southern Luzon while the northeast monsoon will bring rains to Northern Luzon, the Ilocos region and Cordillera Administrative Region.

“Areas in the Bicol region and Quezon will experience cloudy skies and possible rains because of the LPA and shear line, while light rains will be experienced in Batanes, Isabela, Cagayan and Aurora area due to the northeast monsoon,” Badrina said.

Mindanao and the rest of the Visayas will experience isolated rainshowers brought by the localized thunderstorm.

The LPA entered PAR on Sunday.

PAGASA has said that many areas experienced below normal rainfall amid the moderate El Niño presently in the country.

The state weather bureau added that for the month of October, at least 67 provinces experienced below normal rains, seven provinces with way below normal rains and only two experienced above normal rains – Zambales and Bataan.

According to PAGASA, Kalinga, Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Laguna, Palawan and Camarines Sur and Guimaras endured dry conditions, while Batangas, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro and Lanao del Norte were affected by dry spells.

PAGASA senior weather specialist Rusy Abastillas said that a stronger El Niño phenomenon is expected in the coming months.

“We expect that the moderate El Niño will become strong starting November, December until January, February, which is likely the peak of El Niño,” Abastillas said.

She warned that below normal rainfall is expected in most areas in Luzon.

“There is a 70 percent probability of below normal rainfall, mostly in Central Luzon, Bicol region and some parts of the Visayas. For December, the concentration of rain will be in the eastern section of Luzon and the Visayas, as well as the Mindanao area,” Abastillas added.

Meanwhile, as of 6 a.m. yesterday, the water level of Angat Dam dropped by 0.21 meters after it measured 209.19 meters compared to its previous level of 209.40 meters.