Pagasa: LPA may become tropical depression

Local

A NEW low-pressure area looming east of the country is showing rapid signs of intensification.

The state weather bureau is warning that it could reach tropical depression status within the next 24 hours.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Wednesday, Dec. 3, that the system, currently monitored as LPA 12A and still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), now carries a “high” potential for development as it continues to draw energy from favorable weather conditions over the Pacific.

Pagasa reported that LPA 11B, formerly “Verbena,” remains outside PAR and is being tracked separately. The approaching system may begin enhancing rains by the end of the week, especially across the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, and parts of Mindanao.

This comes as two existing weather systems, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) over southern Mindanao and the Northeast Monsoon (amihan) over Northern Luzon, continue to bring rains to opposite ends of the country.

In its 24-hour forecast, Pagasa warns of cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi due to the ITCZ, plus rains over Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Kalinga, and Aurora from the Northeast Monsoon, with possible flash floods or landslides in both areas from moderate to heavy rains.

Partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with isolated light rains are expected in the rest of the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Central Luzon with minimal impact, while Metro Manila and the rest of the Philippines face isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms from localized convection, potentially triggering flash floods or landslides during severe episodes.

Pagasa continues to monitor the developing LPA as it moves westward, urging residents, especially those in eastern coastal provinces, to remain alert to updates as forecast tracks and intensity projections may shift rapidly.

The agency also reiterated that one to two more cyclones may still enter the Philippine monitoring zone this December.

Pagasa is expected to issue additional bulletins once the LPA shows stronger signs of intensification or begins approaching PAR boundaries.(TGP)