Pagasa: LPA near Cantanduanes brings rains over country

MANILA (Updated) -- The low pressure area (LPA) off Catanduanes has slim chance to becoming a tropical cyclone within the next 48 hours, but will bring rains over the eastern section of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, the state weather bureau said Sunday.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecaster Glaiza Escullar said that as of 2 p.m. Sunday, the LPA was estimated at 535 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes.

Escullar said that based on their models, the LPA has a small chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in two days, but they are still continuing to monitor it.

In case the weather disturbance becomes a tropical cyclone, it will be named “Karen," the 11th cyclone to enter the country in 2012.

Escullar added that Metro Manila will experience isolated rainshowers due to the southwest monsoon, which is also affecting Northern and Central Luzon.

In its advisory, Pagasa said that Northern and Central Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Northern Luzon, which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

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

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to west will prevail over Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao and 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/Sunnex)