Pagasa: Cyclone threatens N. Luzon

It will be rainy in parts of Luzon this weekend due to a low-pressure area off Cagayan as another potential cyclone threatens Northern Luzon next week, the state weather bureau warned the public yesterday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said scattered light to moderate rains would prevail over Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Northern Aurora today.

As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the weather system was located 485 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan.

The low-pressure area was not expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours. It was forecast to move toward the West Philippine Sea tomorrow and exit the country on Monday.

However, another lowpressure area is likely to develop over the eastern seaboard of the Visayas and Mindanao tomorrow. It is expected to bring scattered rains over Catanduanes and Eastern Visayas on Monday.

The weather system was forecast to intensify into a tropical cyclone on Wednesday. It will be given the local name Kabayan.

PAGASA said the tropical cyclone was expected to move toward the extreme Northern Luzon-Southern Taiwan area. It will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains over Batanes and other areas in Cagayan Valley.

Southwest monsoon

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon would bring scattered rains and thunderstorms over Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan on Wednesday.

On Thursday and Friday, rains and gusty winds will prevail over Batanes, Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao and Kalinga as the weather disturbance moves toward the extreme Northen Luzon-Southern Taiwan area.

Metro Manila, Mimaropa, Central Luzon and the rest of Northern Luzon will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms.

The Visayas and Mindanao will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains and thunderstorms particularly in the afternoon or at night.