PAGASA: Potential cyclone may dissolve, may still threaten Visayas, Mindanao

While a weather disturbance off Mindanao may dissolve in the next two days before becoming a cyclone, parts of Visayas and Mindanao remain under threat from flash floods and landslides. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the disturbance – a low-pressure area (LPA) – continued to move closer to Mindanao. "It is likely the LPA will dissolve in two days. It will interact with the cold air mass from China," PAGASA forecaster Manny Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said the LPA was estimated at 650 km east of Mindanao as of 2 a.m. Saturday, adding, "Hindi siya magiging ganap na bagyo." In an entry on its Twitter account, PAGASA said the LPA may make landfall in eastern part of Mindanao Saturday night. "This LPA has little chance to develop into tropical cyclone," it added. But Mendoza said the tail-end of a cold front may still threaten parts of Eastern Visayas and Northern and Eastern Mindanao. PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin said the eastern sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rain over Eastern and Central Visayas, Northern and Eastern Mindanao which may trigger flash floods and landslides. The rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated light rains, it added. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast and east will prevail over Eastern Visayas and Eastern Mindanao and coming from the northeast over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough, it said. "Pag hindi naputol ang tail-end of a cold front patuloy ang ulan sa lugar na yan," Mendoza added. Meanwhile, PAGASA said strong to gale-force winds may affect the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and Visayas. "Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. — LBG, GMA News