LPA threatens Mindanao with flash floods, spotted southeast of Gensan

Flash floods and landslides continue to threaten parts of Mindanao and a rainy first day of the New Year looms over other parts of the country, state weather forecasters said Saturday afternoon. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said a low-pressure area (LPA) was 460 kilometers East Southeast of General Santos City as of 2 p.m. Saturday.   PAGASA’s 5 p.m. bulletin, however, did not indicate any path the low pressure area may take while in its current form or for when should it become a storm.   The bulletin and an advisory issued 8 a.m. Saturday also did not indicate any estimates or predictions of rainfall.   General Santos City is one of several Mindanao cities and other localities identified by experts at the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS) of the University of the Philippines through their project website, www.nababaha.com   PAGASA said the Northeast Monsoon will also bring mostly cloudy skies and light rains over northern luzon. "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," weather forecasters said in their 5 p.m. bulletin. PAGASA also issued gale force warnings for seacraft.   "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. — ELR, GMA News