One of two low-pressure areas (LPAs) now in Philippine territory is moving away from Philippine area of responsibility, though the second remains likely to intensify into a cyclone later this week, state weather forecasters said Wednesday.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather forecaster Chris Perez said the LPA near Tuguegarao is moving away and may already be out of Philippine territory should it become a cyclone.

"Ito inaasahan natin patuloy na kikilos palayo ng ating bansa [at] maliit ang chance nito na maging bagyo," Perez said in an interview on dzBB radio.

On the other hand, he said the second LPA, which is near Mindanao, may become a cyclone Thursday night or Friday morning.

If it intensifies into a cyclone, it will be locally codenamed "Gener."

Perez warned fishermen against venturing out to sea in the eastern seaboard of Mindanao and the western seaboard of Luzon due to the threat of big waves.

On the other hand, he said Metro Manila can expect occasional rain due to the southwest monsoon.

Flash floods, landslides

PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said that as of 2 a.m., the LPA near Mindanao was estimated at 600 km east-southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, while that off Northern Luzon was estimated at 440 km east-northeast of Tuguegarao City.

"Luzon and Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rain over the western sections of Northern and Central Luzon which may trigger flash floods and landslides," it said.

Visayas will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, it added.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to south will prevail over Luzon and coming from southwest to northwest over the rest of the country.

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

PAGASA also said strong to gale-force winds associated with the southwest monsoon may affect the western seaboards of Luzon.

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