LPA-induced rain forces class suspensions in Cebu towns

Local

CONTINUOUS rains triggered by a Low Pressure Area (LPA) prompted at least two local government units in northern Cebu to suspend classes on Monday, June 29.

State weather forecasters warned that the weather disturbance could intensify into a tropical cyclone by midweek.

Classes in Santa Fe were suspended at all levels beginning at 12:00 PM, while Medellin suspended classes from pre-elementary to senior high school due to the persistent rainfall.

The advisories came as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) placed large portions of Cebu under a rainfall advisory, warning residents of continued moderate to heavy rains that may trigger flooding and rain-induced landslides.

In its 11 a.m. Rainfall Advisory, Pagasa's Visayas Regional Services Division identified northern Cebu towns already experiencing significant rainfall.

This includes Asturias, Bantayan, Bogo City, Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Consolacion, Daanbantayan, Danao City, Liloan, Madridejos, Medellin, Pilar, Poro, San Francisco, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, and Tudela.

The weather bureau also warned that rainfall is expected to spread across the rest of Cebu, including Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Talisay City, Toledo City, and several southern and western municipalities such as Argao, Carcar City, Minglanilla, Naga City, Dalaguete, Oslob, Moalboal, Barili, Balamban, Pinamungajan, and Alcantara.

The LPA, last monitored about 495 kilometers east of Surigao City on Monday morning, remains inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and currently has a medium probability of developing into a tropical cyclone.

According to Pagasa, the weather system is expected to move across the Southern Luzon-Visayas area on Tuesday before emerging over the West Philippine Sea, where environmental conditions could allow it to strengthen further.

"If the low-pressure area reaches the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday, there is a high chance that it will develop into a tropical cyclone," Pagasa weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said in a briefing.

Once it intensifies into a tropical storm, it will be assigned the local name Henry, becoming the country's eighth tropical cyclone this year.

Even before any possible intensification, the LPA is already enhancing rainfall over the Visayas.

Pagasa warned that the weather disturbance could bring 50 to 100 millimeters of rainfall over several provinces, including Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

While Cebu was not included in the list of provinces forecast to receive the heaviest rainfall totals, the Visayas Regional Services Division warned that continuous rains are already affecting much of the province and could persist throughout the day.

The state weather bureau also noted that although the southwest monsoon or habagat has weakened over western Luzon, it is expected to become more active over parts of Mindanao as the LPA moves westward.

Pagasa advised residents, especially those living in low-lying and landslide-prone areas, to remain alert for possible flooding, landslides, and other rain-related hazards, and to continue monitoring official weather advisories as the LPA evolves.

As of Monday afternoon, no gale warning had been raised over any Philippine seaboard.(TGP)