Shallow LPA brings rains over Visayas

MANILA -- A shallow low pressure area (SLPA) spotted off near Samar will bring rains over Visayas while the southwest monsoon will continue to affect Luzon, the state weather bureau said.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 2 a.m. Monday, the SLPA was estimated at 470 kilometers East of Borongan, Eastern Samar (12.5°N, 130.0°E). It would bring rains in eastern section of Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

Weather forecaster Fernando Cada said that based on their models, the SLPA has slim chance to become tropical cyclone.

He said it is expected to dissipate within 12 hours but the weather bureau continues to monitor.

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

Cada said the LPA spotted in Catanduanes on Sunday already dissipated.

He said Metro Manila will experience isolated rainshowers due to southwest monsoon which is also affecting Southern Luzon.

In its advisory, Pagasa said the Southern Luzon and Visayas will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, becoming cloudy over the western section.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to west will prevail over Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao. 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. (PNA)