MANILA (Updated 9:36 a.m.)-- The state weather bureau issued a heavy rainfall warning over Southern Leyte at 8:35 a.m. Sunday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned, "Flooding is threatening in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas."
Meanwhile, a Yellow Rainfall Alert -- or 2 gallons per square meter of rain per hour -- was issued over Leyte and Bohol.
Pagasa said, "Flooding is possible in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas."
Rainfall Warning Classification (Source: gov.ph)
At 4:00 a.m., Pagasa spotted the low pressure area (LPA) at 200 kilometers (km) east of General Santos City. Pagasa said that it is expected to make landfall between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Davao Oriental.
The Japan Meteorological Agency already upgraded the LPA into a Tropical Depression. Meanwhile, if it develops into a cyclone (or a Tropical Depression), it will be named Agaton and will be the first cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in 2014.
The Northeast Monsoon (Hanging Amihan), on the other hand, continues to affect Luzon, Pagasa said.
"Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," it said.
Pagasa added, "The regions of Cagayan Valley, Bicol and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will have cloudy skies with light rain."
The state weather agency added that Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rain.
A gale warning was hoisted over several seaboards across the country.
Pagasa said, "Strong to gale force winds is expected to affect the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon due to the surge of the Northeast Monsoon."
Other seaboards affected by the gale warning are those of Central and Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and the Caraga region.
"Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. (SFP/Sunnex)