Potential cyclone spotted

THE WEATHER bureau has spotted a potential cyclone, a low pressure area (LPA) which formed yesterday morning within the country’s area of responsibility, which could bring heavy rains and trigger floods and landslides in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said as of 4 p.m. yesterday, the LPA was 520 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and was expected to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms to Central and Eastern Visayas, as well as to the Davao and Caraga regions today.

There is still a slim chance that the LPA would develop into a tropical depression in the next two days, said forecaster Alvin Pura. But Pagasa is keeping watch.

Pura pointed out that the LPA could either intensify into Tropical Depression “Florita” or dissipate as it approaches the country’s land mass.

The downpour could trigger flash floods and landslides, Pura said, advising residents and disaster risk reduction and management councils in the affected areas to take the necessary precautions.

Should the LPA move north, it could enhance the habagat (southwest monsoon) and give Luzon a rainy weekend, Pura added.

In Pagasa’s forecast for Thursday, the Bicol region and the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao will experience light to moderate rains and thunderstorms while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon are expected to be partly cloudy to cloudy.