‘Helen’ exits, new LPA spotted

The low pressure area (LPA) near the extreme Northern Luzon has developed into a tropical depression with a local name “Helen” on Monday evening but has already left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) shortly after Tuesday midnight.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated the location of “Helen” at 365 kilometers west of extreme Northern Luzon or outside the PAR at around 3 a.m. on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the other LPA being monitored by PAGASA east of Mindanao has fizzled out early Tuesday, weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said.

But another LPA further east of the country outside the PAR has developed on Tuesday, he added.

Aurelio said the LPA is still far from the landmass but its trough or extension may already bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and Visayas except the western part.

The southwest monsoon or “habagat” enhanced by tropical depression “Helen” will continue to bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

PAGASA warned of possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate with at times heavy rains from the southwest monsoon and trough of LPA.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have isolated rain showers from the “habagat” and localized thunderstorms.