Wet weekend seen as LPA nears PH

The low pressure area (LPA) east of Batanes will likely develop into tropical depression “Neneng” within 24 to 48 hours.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Ariel Rojas said the LPA has a high chance of becoming a cyclone over the weekend but is not expected to make landfall over any part of the country.

Yesterday morning, the LPA was spotted 820 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes.

Rojas said the brewing cyclone will not directly affect the country but may enhance the prevailing southwest monsoon or “habagat” this weekend.

From Thursday until Friday, the habagat will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar and Southern Leyte.

PAGASA advised residents in these areas of possible floodings and landslides due to scattered rains and thunderstorms.

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 also warned residents in these areas against possible flash floods and landslides due to severe thunderstorms.

It has not issued a gale warning but warned operators and crewmen of vessels of moderate to rough seas over the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas.