Flashfloods, landslides threaten Visayas, Mindanao due to LPA
-A A +AMonday, October 22, 2012
MANILA -- Flashfloods and landslides threaten the Visayas and Mindanao due to low pressure area (LPA) which is embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), the state weather bureau said on Monday.
Weather Forecaster Boy Soriaga said as of 4 a.m. Monday, the LPA was spotted at 865 km east of Southern Mindanao (6.0°N, 135.0°E) embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Visayas and Mindanao.
An ITCZ is a merge of winds from different directions, which is also a breeding ground for an LPA.
Soriaga said the to ITCZ is expected to bring moderate to heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The rest of the Luzon including Metro Manila, will be partly cloudy with brief rainshowers due to localized thunderstorms.
He said the LPA is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) within the day and has a high chance to intensify into a tropical depression.
Once it intensifies into a cyclone inside the PAR, Soriaga said it will named “Ofel” – the 15th cyclone to enter the country this year.
He said the predicted cyclone is expected to further strengthen in the next few days since it is still hovering over the sea.
In its advisory, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Bicol region and 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 Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast to north with slight to moderate seas.
Pagasa also said a strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the northern and eastern seaboard of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of the Visayas.
Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves. (PNA)
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