Weather disturbance threatening PH

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is closely monitoring a tropical depression off the Pacific Ocean that may enter the country's area of responsibility by today or tomorrow.

According to PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio, the tropical depression was estimated at 1,790 kilometers east of Luzon or outside the Philippine area of responsibility before Saturday noon.

If it maintains its westward track, Aurelio said the tropical depression will be inside the country's territory by Sunday evening or Monday morning and will be given a local name of "Ferdie," the second tropical cyclone this month and sixth this year.

Aurelio is not discounting the possibility of the tropical depression's landfall over extreme Northern Luzon.

However, even if it does not make landfall,, he said the outer circulation of the weather disturbance will likely bring moderate to heavy rains over Northern Luzon by Wednesday.

The depression will also enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat that will bring light to moderate with occasional heavy rains by Tuesday over Luzon and Visayas, mostly in the western section of Luzon, Aurelio added.

Meanwhile, the low pressure area (LPA) north-northwest of Puerto Princesa City will likely leave the country's area of responsibility by Sunday.

The weather disturbance will bring cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Palawan.

Today, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced over Visayas and Mindanao.

Meanwhile, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.