New LPA may bring rain to Visayas late Friday

Published September 7, 2012 9:04am

A new low-pressure area (LPA) has just entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) from the east and may bring rain to parts of the country late Friday or early Saturday.

Satellite images from Weather Central show rain clouds moving ahead of the LPA, according to GMA's resident meteorologist, Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz. "The LPA is not visible in the image, but what we're seeing are clouds that are being pushed by the LPA ahead of itself," Mang Tani said.

^{Weather Central satellite image showing the approximate location of the approaching LPA as of 9:00am. Also shown are clouds being pushed by the LPA toward the country.}

"The LPA may further develop over the next few days, and we will be monitoring it closely. Some numerical models (GSM, NOGAPS) show that it might traverse Visayas and Mindanao this weekend," he added.

PAGASA forecast

Meanwhile, PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said that, while their models do not show the LPA becoming a cyclone, it is likely to make landfall during the weekend.

"Within 24 hours, aabot ito sa Eastern Visayas, kaya magkakaroon ng kalat-kalat na pag-ulan," Quitlong said in an interview on dzBB radio earlier this morning.

"Sa ngayon lahat na atmospheric model na gamit namin walang nag-i-indicate na magiging bagyo ito. Malaki ang kaulapan, magdudulot ng pag-ulan, may chance dumaan ito sa kalupaan," he added. Outlook for rest of the country

Quitlong said that other parts of the country, including Metro Manila, will continue to have partly cloudy skies with possible isolated rain showers in the afternoon. He also said that the LPA may enhance the southwest monsoon, pulling in rains from the West Philippine Sea. Meanwhile, according to Mang Tani, central and southern Philippines may experience more rains early next week. "The Weather Central wind forecast shows the development of a significant circulation over the Philippine Sea after the weekend and after the LPA has crossed central Philippines. In that scenario, rains will be concentrated down south but not much in Luzon," Mang Tani added.

"Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening," PAGASA said in its regular 5:00am weather update.

It added that light to moderate winds blowing from the northeast to east will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the northeast to northwest over the rest of the country.

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate, PAGASA said. — TJD, GMA News

Tags: weather, lowpressurearea, visayas,