MANILA, Philippines – A low pressure area (LPA) that formed outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 2 am on Friday, October 18, currently has a “medium” chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 to 48 hours.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was located 1,435 kilometers east of Southern Luzon as of 3 pm on Friday, still outside PAR.
The LPA may enter PAR on Sunday, October 20, or Monday, October 21, according to PAGASA Weather Specialist Ana Clauren-Jorda. By then, it may already be a tropical cyclone.
The next local tropical cyclone name is Kristine.
For now, the LPA has no effect on the Philippines yet.
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The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), however, is affecting parts of the country.
The ITCZ is a belt near the equator where the trade winds of the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere meet.
PAGASA said on Friday afternoon that scattered rain and thunderstorms are expected in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Davao Occidental, and Davao del Sur due to the ITCZ in the next 24 hours.
The ITCZ will also cause isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the rest of Mindanao, as well as in the Visayas and Palawan.
Meanwhile, the easterlies or warm winds coming from the Pacific Ocean may bring isolated rain showers or thunderstorms to Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Aurora, and Quezon.
The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will continue to have generally fair weather, with just localized thunderstorms. – Rappler.com