It was a rainy morning for parts of the Philippines on Sunday, October 24, due to the low pressure area (LPA) embedded along the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).

Before dawn on Sunday, the LPA had been in the vicinity of San Vicente, Palawan.

Heavy rainfall warnings were in effect for Palawan and Oriental Mindoro as of 8 am on Sunday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also said the ITCZ would affect Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected in the following areas on Sunday due to the LPA and/or the ITCZ:

• Metro Manila
• Calabarzon
• Mimaropa
• Bicol
• Aurora
• Bulacan
• Visayas

PAGASA warned the affected areas to watch out for flash floods and landslides.

There may also be rain in Batanes and the Babuyan Islands due to the northeasterly surface windflow. Flash floods and landslides are possible, too. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

PAGASA Weather Specialist Ezra Bulquerin said in a briefing that the LPA may develop into a tropical depression within 48 hours.

It would be given the local name Odette if it becomes a tropical depression inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). (READ: LIST: PAGASA’s names for tropical cyclones in 2021)

Meanwhile, the weather bureau spotted a new tropical depression outside PAR, located 1,580 kilometers east of the Visayas early Sunday.

Bulquerin said the tropical depression may just stay near the PAR boundary within the next five days, based on current models.

Forecasts, however, can still change. Updates are expected in succeeding advisories.

So far, the Philippines has had 14 tropical cyclones in 2021. The yearly average is 20.

PAGASA declared the start of La Niña in mid-October, which means more rain is expected in the coming months. La Niña is seen to last until the first quarter of 2022. – Rappler.com