PAGASA tracks new weather disturbance

Less than 12 hours after Typhoon Igme (Tembin) left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Tuesday night, state weather forecasters are now tracking a new weather disturbance east of Mindanao.

 

PAGASA forecaster Bernie de Leon said Wednesday the new disturbance, a low-pressure area (LPA), has little chance of becoming a cyclone while inside the PAR.

 

"Wala na si Igme, lumabas ito ng Philippine Area of Responsibility ng 7 p.m. Subali't isang LPA ang namataan natin at patuloy natin binabantayan sa ngayon (Igme left the Philippine Area of Responsibility at 7 p.m. Tuesday. But now we have spotted a new LPA and we are monitoring it)," de Leon said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

Igme had reentered the PAR earlier this week, but left quickly as it is following the path of Typhoon Bolaven (Julian).

 

But de Leon said the new LPA may bring cloudy skies and rain to Mindanao.

 

He added the LPA also cannot enhance the southwest monsoon at this time because it is "too low" being located east of Mindanao.

 

"Sa kasalukuyan walang indikasyon para mag-develop into tropical cyclone. Maliit ang chance mag-develop into bagyo (As of now, there is no indication it will develop into a cyclone)," he said.

 

De Leon also said Luzon may continue to experience rain from the southwest monsoon, but this is due to Tembin/Igme, which he said continues to enhance the monsoon.

 

"Ang nakakapagpaibayo ng habagat yun pa ring si Igme, although may kalayuan na ito kung kaya't meron pa tayong habagat pero hindi gaano kalakas ang habagat (It's still Igme that is enhancing the monsoon. But it's getting far away, so the monsoon is not that strong now)," he said.

 

Rain over Luzon, Mindanao

 

As of 2 a.m. Wednesday, PAGASA estimated the LPA at 700 km east of Mindanao, adding the southwest monsoon is affecting Luzon.

 

"Luzon and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rain over the western sections of Northern and Central Luzon. Visayas will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms," it said.

 

It said moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and coming from the southwest to south over the rest of the country.

 

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough, it added.

 

Meanwhile, PAGASA said strong to gale-force winds enhanced by Tembin may affect the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Central Luzon.

 

"Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. — ELR, GMA News