MANILA – A low-pressure area (LPA) last spotted over the coastal waters of Calayan Island, Cagayan and the southwest monsoon will bring rains over most areas in Luzon, the weather bureau said on Wednesday.
Heavy rainfall due to the southwest monsoon is forecast over La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Antique, Iloilo, Pangasinan, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal,
Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro.
The LPA, which has a high potential to develop into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours, will also cause heavy rains over Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, and Kalinga.
"Tropical Depression Dante is far from the landmass so we did not raise a storm signal as Dante is not directly affecting any part of the country," Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Loriedin Galicia said.
"Dante, however, enhances the southwest monsoon."
Dante was last tracked 880 km. east of extreme northern Luzon. It packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
The southwest monsoon will bring strong to gale-force gusts over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Aurora, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Mimaropa, the Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental.
Meanwhile, up to rough seas will prevail over the western seaboard of Lubang Island, the seaboards of Batanes and Kalayaan Islands; the western seaboards of Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and Calamian Islands.
Mariners of small seacraft, including all types of motorbancas, are advised not to venture out to sea, PAGASA said. (PNA)