PAGASA: Northern Mindanao should prepare for three days of rain

A brewing storm is moving closer to central Mindanao and may bring “widespread” rain over the northern portion of the island, which is still reeling from tropical storm Sendong just last week. PAGASA forecaster Connie Dadivas advised residents of Mindanao affected by Sendong to prepare for relatively heavy rain for the next two to three days. “Ang nakikita natin medyo magpapaulan talaga ito for the next two to three days,” she said in an interview on dzBB radio Sunday morning. Real-time satellite images on the web site of the US's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraiton shows an approaching weather disturbance. The low pressure area, which was last spotted at 100 kilometers east of General Santos City, is also expected to bring rain over eastern Visayas and eastern Mindanao, PAGASA said in a weather bulletin released 5 p.m. Sunday. The weather bureau also warned of possible flashfloods and landslides in these areas. Based on latest government records, total of 1,100 persons have been confirmed dead while 1,079 others have been reported as missing after Sendong ravaged portions of northern Mindanao, particularly the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.   PAGASA likewise said that the rest of the country should expect cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers, especially Luzon which is being affected by the northeast monsoon. The same weather system will also cause moderate to strong winds and rough coastal waters in Luzon and the Visayas, according to PAGASA’s latest weather bulletin. On the other hand, PAGASA said the northeast monsoon is now affecting Luzon, and may bring cloudy skies and scattered rain showers. If the LPA becomes a cyclone while inside Philippine territory, it will be locally codenamed “Tisoy.” But PAGASA's Dadivas said the LPA has little chance of becoming a cyclone at least within the next two to three days. Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas, and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast to north with slight to moderate seas.  — with Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK/HS, GMA News