A weather disturbance—a low-pressure area (LPA)—east of Mindanao may enter Philippine territory as early as Tuesday night but is not likely to intensify into a tropical cyclone until at least Thursday, state weather forecasters said Tuesday.

 

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the LPA may cause rain on parts of the country starting Friday.

 

"Lalakas ito Thursday o Friday, at inaasahan ang pag-ulan sa Metro Manila uli sa Friday ang start. (Sa) weekend maulan tayo," PAGASA forecaster Glaiza Escollar said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

She said their models also showed the LPA may enter Philippine territory between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

 

Once the LPA intensifies into a cyclone, it will be locally codenamed "Gener."

 

But in the meantime, Escollar said Metro Manila can expect improving weather, while the western section of Northern Luzon including Pangasinan can expect rain.

 

PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said the LPA was estimated at 930 km east of Mindanao as of 2 a.m.

 

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon is affecting Luzon.

 

"The western section of Luzon will have occasional rain. The rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms," it said.

 

It added moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and Visayas, making coastal waters moderate to rough.

 

Elsewhere, winds from the south to southwest will be light to moderate resulting in slight to moderate seas.

 

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council warned of strong to gale-force winds that may affect the northern and western seaboards of Luzon.

 

It said fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger vessels are alerted against big waves. –KG, GMA News