Another LPA may enter Philippines on Sunday

MANILA -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Saturday that a cloud cluster in the Pacific Ocean has developed into another potential cyclone that might enter the country early Sunday morning.

Pagasa said that as of 2 a.m. of Saturday, the low pressure area (LPA) was spotted at data at 1,110 kilometers (km) east of Mindanao embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao.

Weather forecaster Jori Loiz said the LPA is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and will not directly affect the country yet since it is still too far.

He said the LPA is estimated to enter PAR early Sunday morning.

Based on the models, Loiz said the LPA has a high chance of developing into a tropical cyclone since its in the sea.

If the LPA becomes a tropical depression, it will be locally named “Bising,” the second tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.

He added that Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Loiz said that Luzon and Metro Manila will be spared from the effects of the potential cyclone.

However, he said that the northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan” will continue to bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with occasional light rains over Northern Luzon.

The rest of Luzon including Metro Manila, will have sunny to partly cloudy skies with passing light rains mostly in the afternoon or evening due to localized thunderstorms.

Pagasa also said that moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail throughout the archipelago and the coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

Pagasa issued gale warning as strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the seaboards of northern and Central Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and Eastern 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," the state weather bureau said. (PNA)