MANILA, Philippines — A low-pressure area, which dumped rains over the Visayas and Mindanao in the past few days, moved toward the West Philippine Sea yesterday, but the state weather bureau said a new cyclone might enter the country this weekend.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the weather system, which was spotted 420 kilometers south-southeast of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, could still bring moderate to occasional heavy rains over the province.
PAGASA senior weather specialist Chris Perez said a new low-pressure area was spotted 3,045 kms east of Mindanao yesterday morning.
Perez said the weather system was forecast to enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday or Monday next week.
“It is expected to intensify further and develop into a tropical cyclone in the next five days,” he said.
PAGASA said the next cyclone that would enter the Philippine area of responsibility would be locally named Samuel.