LPA may enter PAR on Dec. 25 or 26

CEBU, Philippines – Rains, both light and heavy, will most likely dampen our Christmas celebrations.

“On December 24 and 25, there will be light rains in the afternoon. From Tuesday (today) until Friday, it will be sunny with rainshowers but will not be long-stretched ones,” PAGASA Visayas director Oscar Tabada said yesterday.

He further stressed that the cloudiness that we have been experiencing recently is not due to a coming tropical cyclone but the tail-end of a cold front enhanced by northeast monsoon.

Sea conditions during this period will be moderate considering the same circumstances.

A Low Pressure Area is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility either on Christmas day or the day after and will bring more rains.

“On Saturday until Monday (December 27 to 29), there will be continuous at times heavy rains especially over Eastern Visayas,” Tabada said.

But the LPA is expected to traverse to the Bicol region after passing through Eastern Visayas, sparing a direct hit to Cebu but not without leaving heavy rains.

“There is a slim chance, at 30 percent, that this LPA will intensify into a tropical cyclone. The most it could become if it develops is a tropical depression,” the Visayas state weather chief explained.

Tabada added that those who will be travelling back to their home provinces before Christmas day will experience a little bumpy but tolerable ride.

“Seas will be moderate to rough. We have been recording winds at 20 to 25 kilometers per hour in landmass. We expect stronger blow in seas,” he said.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)