Cyclone may enter this week

MANILA, Philippines - A low-pressure area that is expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone may enter the Philippine area of responsibility on Tuesday, state weather forecasters said yesterday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the low-pressure area was located over the Pacific at 1,870 kilometers east of Mindanao as of 8 a.m. yesterday.

Weather forecaster Glaiza Escullar said the weather system is not expected to make landfall, but could intensify the southwest monsoon that would bring rains over most parts of Luzon and the Visayas starting Wednesday until Friday.

If the low-pressure area intensifies into a cyclone, it will be named Butchoy once within the Philippine area of responsibility, according to PAGASA.

Cebu rainfall within limits

Meanwhile, Escullar said the rainfall experienced in Cebu since Friday is within normal limits based on data that they have gathered.

Flooding in some parts of the Visayan metropolis were reported on Friday night due to the downpour, which PAGASA said was caused by thunderstorms.

The weather forecaster said thunderstorms are common in the Visayas and Mindanao due to the intertropical convergence zone affecting the country.

She said similar weather would be experienced until Tuesday.

“Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced over the Visayas, Mindanao, Bicol region and Region IV-B. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon,” said the weather bureau.

“Light to moderate winds blowing from the southwest to southeast will prevail over Luzon and the Visayas and coming from the southwest over Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate,” it added.