PAGASA: New potential cyclone threatens to trigger floods, landslides in Mindanao

A potential cyclone - a low-pressure area - may bring heavy rain that may trigger flash floods and landslides on some parts of Mindanao on Saturday, state weather forecasters said.

 

PAGASA forecaster Meno Mendoza said their models show the LPA has a slim chance of intensifying into a cyclone, at least for now.

 

"Kung pagbabatayan ang magiging bagyo, sa ngayon nakita natin mababa ang chance. Pero makapagdala ito ng ulan sa bahagi ng Mindanao (Its chances of becoming a cyclone are slim for now, but it remains a threat because it can bring rain to parts of Mindanao)," Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

Should the LPA intensify into a cyclone while inside the Philippine area of responsibility, it will be locally codenamed Emong.

 

As of 4 a.m., PAGASA said the LPA was embedded along the inter-tropical convergence zone, and was estimated at 345 km east of Davao City.

 

He also said other parts of the country, including Luzon and Visayas, may expect rain as well due to the southwest monsoon.

 

Saturday outlook

 

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon is affecting the western sections of Luzon and Visayas.

 

"The regions of Caraga, Davao and SOCCSKSARGEN will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides," it said.

 

Also, it said Ilocos region, Visayas, the rest of Mindanao and the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro and Palawan will be "cloudy with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms."

 

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have "partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms," it added.

 

Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds from the southwest to southeast will prevail over the western section of Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

 

Light to moderate winds coming from the southeast will prevail over the rest of Luzon and coming from the northeast to northwest over Visayas and Mindanao with slight to moderate seas, it added.  — ELR, GMA News