By Brian Campued
The low pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) now has a “medium” chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Friday.
As of 8:00 a.m., the state weather bureau located the LPA 480km east of Eastern Visayas.
In a public briefing, PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said the LPA is forecast to move close to Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region over the weekend and may develop into a tropical depression.
“Kung saka-sakaling maging isang ganap na bagyo o tropical depression ito bukas (Saturday) or sa Sunday, papangalan po natin ito na Auring—o ’yong magiging unang bagyo for this month of June and even for the year 2025,” Estareja said.
This Friday, the trough of the LPA, along with the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat,” will bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol Region.
Northern and Central Luzon will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains and thunderstorms due to habagat.
The LPA and enhanced habagat will likewise dampen Visayas and Mindanao which may cause flash floods and landslides.
No gale warning has been hoisted yet but the state weather bureau may issue travel warnings to sailors once the potential tropical cyclone gets closer to the eastern seaboards of the country, Estareja said.
Heavy rainfall due to LPA, habagat
By Saturday, June 7, the PAGASA said the LPA will directly affect Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Northern Samar, while habagat will prevail over Palawan, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Zamboanga del Norte.
Both weather conditions are forecast to bring 50 to 100 millimeters of rain.
“Ibig sabihin po niyan nasa apat hanggang walong timba ng tubig ang dami ng ibubuhos na ulan—usually ’yong katamtamang laki po ng timba, nasa apat hanggang walong timbang ganon—ibubuhos po sa one square meter na lupain sa loob ng 24 oras, ganon po kadami ang 50-100 mm ng ulan,” Estareja explained.
The weather specialist likewise advised the public to continue monitoring updates from PAGASA as the forecast on the potential tropical cyclone will still change.
“In the coming days posible pang mabago itong nakikita nating forecast rainfall na mapa, posible pang madagdagan pa ’yong mga lugar na magkakaroon ng malalakas na pag-ulan at posibleng tumaas pa actually to more than 100 mm ’yong dami ng ulan per day.”
-jpv
