The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is closely monitoring two low-pressure areas (LPAs) that, along with the prevailing easterlies, are influencing the country’s weather this weekend.
As of 3 a.m. Saturday, the first system, officially designated as LPA 05d, was estimated at 795 kilometers east of General Santos City. State meteorologists first detected the system inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning.
In its latest tropical cyclone outlook, PAGASA said LPA 05d is “unlikely” to develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours. Despite the low probability of intensifying into a tropical cyclone, the system’s trough continues to bring rains over Mindanao and nearby southern areas.
According to PAGASA’s 4 a.m. weather bulletin, the trough is bringing cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Mindanao, Central Visayas, the Negros Island Region, Eastern Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte.
PAGASA warned residents to remain vigilant against possible flash floods and rain-induced landslides during periods of moderate to heavy rainfall.
A second LPA, designated as LPA 05e, was estimated at 2,135 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao as of 3 a.m. Saturday.
In PAGASA’s 5 a.m. public weather forecast, weather specialist Leanne Loreto said the system outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility is moving westward or west-northwestward over the Philippine Sea.
State meteorologists said the second LPA also has a low chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours. However, long-range forecasts indicate a moderate possibility of intensification over the coming days.
“Today until Wednesday, we monitor it outside the PAR. It will not affect us yet but it will have a moderate chance of becoming a tropical cyclone within the next four to five days,” Loreto said.
Outside the direct influence of the LPAs, the easterlies remain the dominant weather system affecting the rest of the country. They are bringing partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
The easterlies are also sustaining high temperatures, with Saturday’s heat index forecast to reach 36 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila and up to 39 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao.
PAGASA warned that severe localized thunderstorms triggered by afternoon heating may cause sudden flash floods or landslides in vulnerable areas.
The overlapping weather systems signal a volatile atmospheric transition as PAGASA anticipates the onset of the southwest monsoon, or habagat, which officially marks the approach of the rainy season.
