MANILA, July 1 — Flooding may hit Batanes’ low-lying locations early next week if the low-pressure area (LPA) east of the country intensifies into a tropical cyclone (TC) that can dump in the province moderate to heavy rainfall.
The LPA is heading towards the Batanes-Taiwan area at some 15 kph and can intensify along the way, as this weather system is moving over water, state weather bureau, PAGASA, forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said Saturday morning.
“Latest available data indicate the LPA can intensify into a TC within 24 to 36 hours,” he said, adding that the TC will assume the local name ‘Emong’.
Aurelio noted that ‘Emong’ may reach tropical depression category but its expected winds of up to 61 kph will not be destructive.
“However, that TC can bring to Batanes moderate to heavy rainfall that may trigger, either this Sunday (July 2) or Monday (July 3), flooding in low-lying areas there,” he said.
There’s a low chance of landslides in Batanes though, he added.
If the LPA does not intensify and instead remains as such, it will bring to Batanes only light to moderate rains, Aurelio said.
He noted that thunderstorms are possible in Batanes due to either the LPA or expected ‘Emong’.
In its 24-hour forecast issued 4 a.m. Saturday, PAGASA reported locating the LPA at 985 km. east-northeast of Guiuan municipality in the Visayas’ Eastern Samar province as of 3 a.m. of the same day.
Aurelio said the weather system is already east of Luzon and will likely reach the Batanes area around Sunday.
“That weather system won’t affect eastern Luzon but will impact Batanes’ weather, either as LPA or TC,” he said.
He did not discount the possibility that the weather system would cross Batanes and even make landfall there.
According to Aurelio, the LPA entered the Philippine area of responsibility Friday night.
If the LPA intensifies into ‘Emong’, he said, it will be the fifth TC in the country this year.
Earlier, PAGASA forecast two to three TCs in the country this July. (Catherine J. Teves/PNA)