Low pressure area spotted off Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines – More rains threaten parts of Mindanao already affected by flash floods, as a shallow low pressure area (SLPA) moves towards the southern part of the island.

As of 2 pm Tuesday, June 12, the state weather bureau PAGASA reported the SLPA was last spotted 110 kilometers southwest of Cotabato City.

The weather disturbance will bring mostly cloudy to cloudy skies, with scattered rain and thunderstorms over parts of southern Mindanao and the Zamboanga peninsula.

“Residents living in low lying areas and along mountain slopes are advised to be on alert for possible occurrence of flashfloods and landslides,” the bureau said.

Meanwhile, monsoon rains will continue to affect northern and western parts of Luzon, while the rest of Mindanao and Western Visayas will get scattered rains and thunderstorms.

The rest of the country, meanwhile, will experience cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

“Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and Western Visayas, and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough,” PAGASA said.

The bureau is also monitoring another low pressure area, this time 1,730 km east of southern Mindanao, moving at 11 km per hour. Once inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, it will be given the codename “Butchoy.”

Several areas in Mindanao were hit by flash flooding on Monday and Tuesday (June 11 and 12) due to heavy rainfall, leaving one person dead, and dozens of families in evacuation centers. – Rappler.com