Low pressure area spotted as ‘summer’ starts

MANILA -- After the declaration of the onset of “summer," the state weather bureau on Wednesday spotted a low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) that is expected to bring rains in many parts of the country in the next two to three days.

In an interview, Alvin Pura, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said the LPA was spotted at 1,150 km east of Mindanao and is still outside the PAR.

He said the LPA is expected to enter the PAR by Wednesday afternoon or evening.

Pura said the weather disturbance has a slim chance of intensifying into a tropical cyclone but it would still bring light to moderate rains in many parts of the country.

He said that if it does not change direction, the weather disturbance is expected to greatly affect Mindanao, especially its northeastern portion, in the coming days since it is moving towards it.

Pura said the regions of Eastern Visayas and Caraga will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thundertorms in the afternoon while Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have generally good weather except for isolated thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

He added that Southern Luzon, particularly the Bicol region, may likely feel the effects of the LPA starting Thursday. Metro Manila is also expected to have light to moderate rains on Friday.

If it does not dissipate in the next few days, Pura said the LPA will likely exit PAR by Saturday after crossing Palawan.

He explained that during these times of the year, the “vertical wind shear or winds from different directions that blow into the country is strong that can disorganize the circulation of the potential cyclone when it interacts with it.”

“Kaya dahil sa lakas ng vertical wind shear sa panahon ngayon, mas malaki ang posibilidad na malusaw ang LPA. Posible rin na humina ito dahil na rin sa pag-interact nito sa kalupaan,” he said.

In case the LPA intensifies into a tropical depression, Pura said it will be named "Dante” – the fourth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.

On Monday afternoon, Pagasa has officially declared the onset of the dry season or summer after observing that the northeast monsoon is completely gone and that the “warm” winds from the east or the easterlies has started blowing into the country.

However, Pura said that storms can still be formed during dry season.

“In fact, ‘zero to one’ storm pa rin ang inaasahan ng Pagasa ngayong buwan (March) at sa April,” Pura noted.

Every year, the weather bureau said an average of about 17 to 20 storms visit the country.

In its advisory, Pagasa said that light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the east to northeast over the rest of the country.

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate. (PNA/Sunnex)