
By Brian Campued
A low pressure area (LPA) that formed inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) now has a “high” chance to develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours, the state weather bureau said Wednesday.
In its 4:00 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was last monitored 995 km east of Virac, Catanduanes—and will be given the name “Crising” when it becomes a tropical cyclone.
PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin De la Cruz – Galicia, in a public briefing, said the LPA is already affecting the eastern section of the country, bringing cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon or habagat will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms in Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Zambales, Bataan, MIMAROPA, the rest of Visayas, and the rest of Mindanao.
Habagat will also bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over the rest of Luzon.
“Maulap ang papawirin at mataas ang tiyansa ng pag-ulan sa malaking bahagi ng bansa dulot ng LPA at maging nitong habagat,” the PAGASA weather specialist said.
According to PAGASA’s heavy rainfall outlook, the LPA and habagat will dump 50–100 mm of rainfall over Palawan, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Antique, Negros Oriental, and Negros Occidental today.
More areas will be drenched on Thursday and Friday, with 100–200 mm of rainfall forecast in Palawan, Antique, Negros Occidental, and Occidental Mindoro.
-jpv