A LOW pressure area (LPA) east of Surigao del Sur has a “high” potential of developing into a tropical depression, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
If it will intensify into a tropical depression, it will be named “Jacinto,” the country’s 10th tropical cyclone for this year and the fifth for this month.
As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the LPA was some 430 km east northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, said weather specialist Veronica Torres in a public weather forecast at 5 p.m. yesterday.
“This low pressure area has a high potential to become a tropical depression in the next 24 hours,” said Torres.
Torres said the LPA, regardless if it becomes a tropical depression or not, and the enhanced southwest monsoon will bring rains to many areas in Luzon, including Metro Manila, and in the Visayas and Mindanao in the coming days.
The country’s last tropical cyclone was “Isang,” which developed into a tropical depression last Friday morning before making landfall in Casiguran, Aurora.
It exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday morning as a tropical storm. It is no longer affecting any part of the country.
Isang, which has an international name now Kajiki, further intensified into a typhoon yesterday morning.
It was some 1,075 km west of northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph as of 3 p.m. yesterday. It is moving westward at 15 kph.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the combined effects of Isang and the southwest monsoon has affected 6,358 families (25,753 persons) in Cagayan Valley, Bicol, and Soccsksargen regions.
Of the number, 674 families (1,628 persons) have been displaced though the number was down to 153 families (445 persons) as of last Saturday night.
Of the still-displaced population, 141 families (407 persons) are staying in three evacuation centers. The other 12 families (62 persons) are staying with relatives and friends.
