Pagasa: Rains will prevail over country

MANILA (Updated 11:15 a.m.) -- The weather bureau said Sunday that rains will prevail over the country due to the southwest monsoon and a low pressure area (LPA) spotted in the Visayas.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 10 a.m. Sunday, the LPA was estimated at 510 kilometers northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Pagasa forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said the LPA may develop into a tropical cyclone as it is still in the sea.

In case the weather disturbance becomes a tropical cyclone, it will be named “Karen," the 11th cyclone to enter the country this year.

Aurelio added that due to the southwest monsoon, rains are expected over Luzon, including Metro Manila.

In its advisory, the LPA and southwest monsoon are also expected to bring light to moderate rains and thunderstorms in Luzon and Visayas becoming moderate to heavy rains over Panay and the provinces of Mindoro and Negros that may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to west will also prevail over Palawan, the Visayas and Mindanao and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest to south with slight to moderate seas. (Sunnex/With PNA)