Potential cyclone moves closer to Mindanao, may bring as much rain as 'Sendong' 

A potential cyclone moving toward Mindanao Tuesday may bring as much rain as tropical storm “Sendong” (Washi), the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

 

While it is still a low pressure area, it may intensify and bring as much as 20 mm of rain per hour, considered “moderate to heavy” in eastern Mindanao, including Surigao, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato.

 

"Maaaring mag-intensify ito... Puwedeng lumaki ang area na covered nito ... Sa forecast ng models, by Wednesday to Thursday medyo maulan; ngayon halos buong Mindanao na," PAGASA forecaster Jun Galang said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

Galang said they expect the low pressure area to become a cyclone in “two to three days.” If it does, it will be named “Ambo,” the first cyclone to enter Philippine territory in 2012.

 

He said it is possible the low pressure area will bring as much rain as tropical storm Sendong, which devastated parts of Mindanao and Visayas last December. 

 

"Halos parehas lang. Ang kaiba nito medyo as low pressure area pa rin ito. Ang isa [Sendong] ganap na bagyo," he said.

 

Flash floods, landslides

 

As of 2 a.m. Tuesday, PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin showed the low pressure area was estimated at 600 km east-southeast of General Santos City, adding a northeast monsoon is affecting Luzon.

 

"Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Eastern and Southern Mindanao which may trigger flash floods and landslides," it said.

 

The rest of Visayas will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, it added.

 

In northern and eastern Luzon, it will be mostly cloudy with light rain.

 

Meanwhile, it will be partly cloudy to cloudy with light rain in the rest of Luzon.

 

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

Seas in other parts of the country will be moderate to occasionally rough as moderate to occasionally strong winds blow from the northeast and east.

 

The northeast monsoon may also bring strong to gale-force winds to the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas.

 

As a result, PAGASA warned fishing boats and other small seacrafts from going out into the sea. Larger sea vessels, meanwhile, were advised to be alert for big waves. –KG, GMA News