A LOW pressure area (LPA) off Aurora province has a “medium” chance of developing into a tropical depression, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.
In a weather forecast issued at 4 p.m. yesterday, PAGASA said the LPA was some 215 km east of Baler, Aurora or some 220 km east northeast of Infanta, Quezon as of 3 p.m. yesterday.
PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said the LPA is forecast to cross the landmass of Luzon.
“Once it’s already in the West Philippine Sea, the chance is already there for it to develop into a tropical cyclone,” she said.
Torres said the LPA, even if it does not become a tropical cyclone, will continue to bring rains in some parts of the country.
If the LPA develops into a tropical depression, it will be named “Auring,” the name reserved for the country’s first tropical cyclone for this year.
In a weather advisory issued at 5 p.m. yesterday, PAGASA said the LPA will bring moderate to heavy rains from Monday afternoon until Tuesday afternoon in Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur.
Similar moderate rains are expected to be experienced in Pangasinan from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon, PAGASA also said.
PAGASA said flooding is possible, especially in areas that are urbanized, low lying or near rivers. It said landslides are also possible in “highly susceptible areas.”
Meanwhile, records from the Department of Social Welfare and Development said continued rains due to the southwest monsoon have resulted in flooding in Central Luzon and the Zamboanga Peninsula, displacing 565 families or 2,191 persons.
It said 359 families are staying in eight evacuation centers in the two regions while 206 families are with relatives or friends. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
