New LPA forms near tip of North Luzon

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is monitoring a new low pressure area (LPA) that formed near the tip of Northern Luzon on Wednesday.

PAGASA estimated the location of the LPA at 405 kilometers (km) westnorthwest of extreme Northern Luzon before Wednesday noon.

Meanwhile, typhoons ‘Soulik’ and ‘Cimaron’ are less likely to enter the country’s area of responsibility.

The eye of typhoon Soulik was located based on available data at 1,230 km northeast of extreme Northern Luzon mid-Wednesday.

It has maintained its strength and was moving west-northwest towards South Korea, said PAGASA weather specialist Gener Quitlong.

Meanwhile, cyclone Cimaron has intensified into a typhoon and was moving northwest.

Quitlong said Cimaron may follow the same track as Soulik, thus it is less likely to enter or directly affect the Philippines.

Before Wednesday noon, the eye of typhoon Cimaron was located at 1,855 km east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon.

Quitlong said the southwest monsoon or habagat remains to be the prevailing weather system in the country.

Cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms will persist over Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA advised the public to take extra precaution against possible flash floods and landslides due to moderate to occasional heavy rains or thunderstorms.