Pagasa monitors new LPA off Mindanao

MANILA -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) is monitoring a new low pressure area (LPA) which has developed off Mindanao.

Weather forecaster Jori Loiz said on Sunday morning that the LPA was spotted in the vicinity of Surigao del Norte (9.6°N, 125.5°E) and may enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Monday.

Loiz said the LPA is embedded along the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting Palawan, the Visayas and Mindanao.

He also said that if the LPA intensifies into a tropical depression and enters the PAR, it will be named “Ofel.”

Meanwhile, Northern Luzon is expected to have occasional light to moderate rains due to the effects of the northeast monsoon, Loiz said.

The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, will have partly cloudy skies with possible brief rainshowers, mostly in the afternoon or evening due to localized thunderstorms.

In its advisory, Pagasa said Palawan, the Visayas and Mindanao will be cloudy with moderate to heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

Bicol region and the rest of Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) will have occasional light to moderate rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and coming from the northeast to northwest over the Visayas and Mindanao.

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

Pagasa also issued a gale warning as strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon and the seaboards of Southern Luzon and the Visayas.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves. (PNA)