Moderate to heavy rain seen as LPA develops off Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines – A low pressure area (LPA) formed inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 8 am on Monday, December 16.

The LPA was located 360 kilometers east southeast of Tagum City, Davao del Norte, as of 8 am.

It currently has a low chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next 24 hours.

But the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in an advisory issued at 11 am on Monday that the LPA will trigger rain in these provinces:

Monday noon, December 16, to Tuesday noon, December 17

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental

Tuesday noon, December 17, to Wednesday noon, December 18

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental

Wednesday noon, December 18, to Thursday noon, December 19

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte

“Localized flooding is possible mainly in areas that are urbanized, low-lying, or near rivers,” PAGASA said.

There may also be landslides in “highly susceptible areas.”

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In other parts of Mindanao as well as in Eastern Visayas and Central Visayas, isolated to scattered rain and thunderstorms are expected on Monday due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).

The ITCZ is a belt near the equator where the trade winds of the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere meet.

Meanwhile, the shear line is bringing scattered rain and thunderstorms to Bicol, Quezon, Marinduque, and Oriental Mindoro on Monday.

The shear line refers to the point where cold air from the northeast monsoon or amihan converges with the easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean.

The northeast monsoon itself is affecting Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera Administrative Region, and Aurora, which are also seeing rain on Monday.

PAGASA advised areas with rain from the ITCZ, shear line, and northeast monsoon to watch out for possible flash floods and landslides, too.

The weather bureau expects one or two tropical cyclones to enter or form within PAR in December.

The country’s last tropical cyclone was Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi) in mid-November. – Rappler.com