Trough of LPA to affect Mindanao, Visayas

THE trough or extension of a low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is expected to dump significant rain over Mindanao and some areas in Visayas, the state-run weather agency said on Friday, February 2.

The LPA, estimated to be some 310 kilometers south of Zamboanga City, remains unlikely to intensify into a tropical depression in the coming days, according to weather specialist

Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

“It also has a slim chance to enter PAR, In fact, it would eventually dissipate probably over the weekend,” the Pagasa forecaster said.

Pagasa in its 5 a.m. advisory said the extension of the LPA is affecting Mindanao, Central Visayas, Negros Occidental, and Southern Leyte where overcast skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail.

It said that about 50 to 100 millimeters of rainfall are expected over SoccsKsargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos), BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), Davao Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon locally known as “amihan” is bringing cloudy skies with light rains over Aurora, Quezon, and Bicol Region. The same weather system is affecting Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon where partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will be experienced over the next 24 hours, the state weather bureau said.

The trough of the LPA along with the localized thunderstorms will bring isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over the rest of Visayas, it added.