The two low pressure areas (LPAs) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) will continue to trigger rain in the next 24 hours, warned the state weather bureau on Saturday afternoon, December 26.

In an online briefing past 4 pm on Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the first LPA is now 135 kilometers north northwest of Zamboanga City.

PAGASA Senior Weather Specialist Chris Perez said the first LPA may move toward the PAR’s western boundary on Sunday, December 27.

The second LPA, meanwhile, is already 185 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Perez said it could approach the eastern part of Southern Luzon on Sunday.

Both LPAs only have a slim chance of developing into a tropical depression, but are still causing moderate to heavy rain nonetheless. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

PAGASA said there will be scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in these areas:

• Metro Manila
• Calabarzon
• Mimaropa
• Bicol
• Zamboanga Peninsula
• Caraga
• Eastern Visayas
• Western Visayas

The state weather bureau warned that flash floods and landslides could occur during moderate to heavy rain.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or hanging amihan is affecting Northern Luzon and Central Luzon.

There will be light rain in the following areas, but PAGASA said there would be “no significant impact”:

• Cagayan Valley
• Cordillera Administrative Region
• Ilocos Region
• Central Luzon

The rest of the Philippines will have generally good weather, with only isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA advised the public to continue monitoring updates on the LPAs.

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)

In December alone, there was Tropical Depression Vicky, which 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