PAGASA tracks new potential cyclone off Mindanao

State weather forecasters are now tracking a new potential cyclone, a low-pressure area, off Mindanao, even as they indicated rain showers and thunderstorms may fall over Visayas and Mindanao on Sunday. PAGASA forecaster Glaiza Escollar said the LPA is embedded in the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting Palawan and Mindanao. "Ang LPA, medyo mababaw kaya hindi natin inaasahang maging bagyo sa loob ng 24 oras," Escollar said in an interview on dzBB radio. But if the LPA becomes a cyclone, it will be locally codenamed Pablo, the 16th cyclone in the Philippine Area of Responsibility this year. PAGASA said that as of 4 a.m., the LPA was estimated at 560 km east of Southern Mindanao, embedded in the ITCZ that is affecting Palawan and Mindanao. "Visayas and Mindanao will be cloudy with occasional light to moderate rain showers or thunderstorms.Bicol region will have light rain," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening, it added. Meanwhile, Escollar said Metro Manila may continue to experience relatively warm weather, with the forecast temperature range from 24 to 33 degrees Celsius. She also noted the temperature on Saturday was very warm, peaking at 33.8 degrees. "May kainitan kahapon, ngayon ang taya ay 33 degrees," she said. — LBG, GMA News