LPA Near Eastern Samar May Intensify into Cyclone; Heavy Rains Expected Over Parts of Luzon, Visayas

MANILA, Philippines — Heavy rains are expected over parts of Luzon and the Visayas as a low-pressure area (LPA) near Eastern Samar may develop into a tropical depression within 24 hours, the state weather bureau said on Monday. In its 5 p.m. Weather Advisory No. 6, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Sorsogon, Albay, Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Marinduque, Romblon, and Oriental Mindoro may receive 50 to 100 millimeters of rain from Monday until Tuesday afternoon. Pagasa warned that rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas, while the effects could worsen in areas that have already received significant rainfall in recent days. It also cautioned that localized flooding, particularly in urban, low-lying, and riverside communities, as well as landslides in highly susceptible areas, remain possible. READ: Pagasa warns Luzon areas of thunderstorms, possible flash floods As of 3 p.m. Monday, the LPA was estimated at 165 kilometers east-northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, where it continued to bring moderate to heavy rains over large parts of Southern Luzon and the Visayas. The southwest monsoon, or habagat, meanwhile, continued to affect the western section of Southern Luzon. Pagasa weather specialist Charmagne Varilla said the weather disturbance remains likely to intensify. “This low-pressure area has a high chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours.” Should the LPA intensify into a tropical cyclone, it will be assigned the local name “Henry,” becoming the country’s eighth tropical cyclone this year. Pagasa may also immediately raise Wind Signal No. 1 over the Bicol Region, Quezon, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon. READ: LPA may develop into cyclone by Wednesday, says Pagasa Pagasa said Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Marinduque may receive 50 to 100 mm of rain from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday afternoon. From Wednesday afternoon until Thursday afternoon, the same amount of rainfall is expected over Occidental Mindoro and Palawan. The state weather bureau added that rainy conditions are expected to persist over Metro Manila and much of Southern Luzon until Wednesday, while large parts of the Visayas will also continue to experience rain through midweek. Weather conditions are expected to gradually improve by Friday as the LPA moves farther away from the country, although isolated thunderstorms may still develop in some areas. Pagasa is monitoring another potential LPA that may form outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility later this week, while another weather disturbance could enter the country’s vicinity next week, although it currently has a low chance of making landfall. /mcm