Weather: Rain from Visayas and Mindanao to affect Southern Luzon and Bicol

The heavy rain from a low pressure area now affecting parts of Visayas and Mindanao may start to affect Southern Luzon and Bicol as well and trigger floods and landslides, state weather forecasters warned Tuesday.

 

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Sonny Pajarilla said early Tuesday the low-pressure area is enhancing the northwest monsoon.

 

"Concentrated ang malakas na ulan sa Kabisayaan at dito sa northern at eastern part ng Mindanao. And then, babanggit ko rin, dahil paakyat ang concentration ng ulan sa Bicol area, sa Southern Luzon. Maaalala natin ang Southern Luzon at Bicol area ay landslide at flood-prone area (For now, the rain is concentrated on the Visayas and northeastern Mindanao. But the concentration of rain may go up to the Bicol and Southern Luzon areas, which are prone to floods and landslides)," Pajarilla said in an interview on dzBB radio early Tuesday.

 

For now, he said parts of Visayas and Mindanao continue to experience rains due to the low pressure area and the tail-end of a cold front.

 

He advised residents in landslide and flood-prone areas to evacuate to safer ground.

 

PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said the low pressure area was estimated at 60 km southeast of Zamboanga City as of 2 a.m., while the tail-end of a cold front is affecting Visayas.

 

Southern Luzon will be cloudy with scattered rain showers.

 

The rest of Luzon, meanwhile, will be mostly cloudy with light rains.

 

“Visayas and Mindanao including Southern Palawan will be cloudy with scattered to widespread rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides," PAGASA said.

 

As of Tuesday, floods have already been reported in Surigao and Agusan.

 

Coastal waters in Luzon and Visayas will be moderate to rough due to the moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast.

 

In other parts of the country, coastal waters will be moderate to occasionally rough due to the moderate to occasionally strong winds coming from the northeast.

 

Meanwhile, PAGASA said strong to gale-force winds brought about by the northeast monsoon may affect the seaboards of 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. –KG, GMA News