PAGASA monitoring new LPA off Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — A new low pressure area has been detected in the eastern part of Mindanao, the state weather bureau PAGASA said Friday.

The LPA was last spotted 900 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. Its trough or extension is seen to affect the whole of Visayas, eastern part of Mindanao and the southern portion of Luzon.

Residents of Visayas, Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, CARAGA and Davao region will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to the LPA and the tail end of the cold front.

Meanwhile, the rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers due to localized thunderstorms.

The weather disturbance, however, is unlikely to develop into a tropical cyclone. It is expected to dissipate by Saturday evening or Sunday.  

PAGASA also said the other LPA earlier affecting Visayas and Mindanao had dissipated.

Good weather on Yuletide

The state weather bureau said fair weather is expected on Christmas eve and Christmas day in key cities such as Metro Manila, Baguio, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao.

Meanwhile, light to moderate rains are expected over Legazpi City on Christmas eve. Improved weather conditions are forecast on Christmas day.

During last year’s holidays, at least 300 were killed when back-to-back storms Urduja and Vinta pummelled Visayas and Mindanao, respectively. — Gaea Katreena Cabico