PAGASA predicts LPA to become ‘Domeng’

The low-pressure area east of the country will likely intensify into a tropical cyclone within 24 to 48 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said.

PAGASA estimated the location of the LPA at 495 kilometers east of Surigao City before noon yesterday.

PAGASA weather specialist Meno Mendoza said the weather disturbance will bring occasional moderate to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms over Caraga, Davao, and Eastern Visayas as it is expected to develop into a tropical depression. It will be named “Domeng” once it intensifies into a tropical cyclone.

PAGASA warned residents in Caraga, Davao, and Eastern Visayas to be on the alert against possible flash floods and landslides.

It has said the brewing tropical cyclone could move towards extreme Northern Luzon or Taiwan by Friday. It could bring rains and occasional gusty winds over Northern Luzon toward the end of the week.

The intertropical convergence zone, which serves as a breeding ground for brewing tropical cyclones, will bring scattered light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms over Palawan and the rest of Visayas and Mindanao today.

Mendoza said the LPA west of the Philippines or outside the country’s area of responsibility has already intensified into tropical cyclone. It was estimated at 985 kms west of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

However, Mendoza said it will no longer affect any part of the Philippines as it continues to move away from the country.