LPA May Ease Southwest Monsoon Rains Over PHL This Weekend

A low pressure area (LPA) has developed outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and could steer the southwest monsoon away from the country’s landmass, easing rainfall in the next few days, the state weather bureau said on Thursday. The LPA was located 590 kilometers west of Subic, Zambales, with a medium chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5:00 p.m. press briefing. “Based on analysis, this means that it will not develop into a tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours, but after that period, the possibility of the LPA becoming a tropical cyclone becomes higher,” John A. Manalo, PAGASA weather specialist, said in the press briefing in Filipino. Once it develops into a tropical depression and enters PAR, it will be assigned the local name Queenie, the country’s 17th tropical cyclone this year. Potential Queenie is expected to steer moisture from the southwest monsoon away from the country, causing rainfall to lessen in the western section of Luzon. “This means that the rainfall would occur offshore, so in the next few days, it will be the cause of lessened rainfall, especially over the weekend,” Mr. Manalo said. However, 10 areas in Luzon are still likely to receive heavy downpours, or rainfall between 50 to 100 millimeters (mm), until Friday afternoon, PAGASA said. These include La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro. PAGASA warned of possible localized flooding and landslides, especially in high-risk areas. Southwest monsoon-induced thunderstorms may affect Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, and Northern Samar during the same period. PAGASA also said that five to 10 tropical cyclones are expected to enter PAR by year-end. Of the total, two or three may enter in September. — Edg Adrian A. Eva