There are two low pressure areas (LPAs) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as of Saturday, December 26.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in an advisory that the first LPA which it had been monitoring entered PAR at 8 am on Saturday.

The first LPA was located 50 kilometers east southeast of Zamboanga City on Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, another LPA formed off the Visayas, also at 8 am.

The second LPA was last spotted 315 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

PAGASA said the two weather disturbances are “less likely” to develop into tropical depressions in the next 24 hours. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

But PAGASA warned that the LPAs are bringing rain this weekend, which may cause floods and landslides in hazard-prone areas.

Saturday, December 26

Light to moderate rain, with at times heavy rain

• Bicol
• Eastern Visayas
• Aklan
• Antique
• Capiz
• Iloilo
• Romblon
• Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands
• Zamboanga Peninsula
• Sulu

Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms

• rest of Visayas
• rest of Mindanao

Sunday, December 27

Moderate to heavy rain

• Aurora
• Quezon including Polillo Islands
• Bicol

Light to moderate rain, with at times heavy rain

• Eastern Visayas
• Mimaropa

The Philippines has had 22 tropical cyclones in 2020, exceeding the yearly average of 20. (READ: LIST: PAGASA’s names for tropical cyclones in 2020)

The last tropical cyclone was Tropical Depression Vicky, which left PAR last December 20. It became a tropical storm outside PAR and was given the international name Krovanh.

Vicky, also the lone tropical cyclone in December so far, left at least 9 people dead, 2 injured, and 1 missing in Eastern Visayas, Davao Region, and Caraga.

For December 2020 and January-June 2021, these are PAGASA’s estimates for tropical cyclones inside PAR:

• December 2020 – 1 or 2
• January 2021 – 0 or 1
• February 2021 – 0 or 1
• March 2021 – 0 or 1
• April 2021 – 0 or 1
• May 2021 – 0 or 1
• June 2021 – 1 or 2

La Niña has been underway since October, causing more rain than usual in the country. – Rappler.com