Potential storm moving towards Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines – A potential storm or low-pressure area is inside the Philippine area of responsibility and moving towards Mindanao.

The LPA was identified 910 km east of Mindanao in a 5 am bulletin of state weather bureau PAGASA on Monday, December 24. It is already embedded in the inter tropical convergence zone or ITCZ that affects Mindanao.

PAGASA issued a warning that strong gale force winds are expected to affect the seaboards of Mindanao, Luzon and the Eastern seaboard of Visayas.

Sea conditions along those coasts are expected to be rough to very rough so fishing boats and small sea crafts are advised to stay out of the water. Meanwhile larger vessels should be on the lookout for big waves.

A report from the News5 Weather Center forecast that the LPA would not hit the Surigao-Agusan area and would instead shift course towards Davao Oriental, before heading out to southwest Mindanao.

Though PAGASA said earlier that the LPA is unlikely to become a tropical cyclone, the agency has been monitoring it for signs that it could intensify.

While it may not worsen in a major way, it could pack rains that could trigger flash floods or landslides.

PAGASA has been clear that the weather disturbance appears much weaker than Typhoon “Pablo” (Bopha). Several days before entering the Philippines, Pablo was already classified as a storm, and then as a typhoon.

The region is still struggling to recover from the recent typhoon, which killed over 1,000 people and damaged up to P34.4 billion worth of property, agriculture and infrastructure.

Expect clouds and rain showers in most areas

Meanwhile, light rain will fall over Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon. Mindanao and Eastern Visayas should expect light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience brief rain showers or thunderstorms.

All areas will be cloudy or partly cloudy. – Rappler.com