LPA off Central Luzon to bring rain this weekend

MANILA, Philippines — A low-pressure area east of Central Luzon is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over parts of the country this weekend, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

The low-pressure area was spotted 1,655 kilometers east of Central Luzon as of 3 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophsyical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA weather specialist Ariel Rojas said the weather system is likely to enter the Philippine area of responsibility but is not expected to hit any part of the country.

The weather system has a chance of developing into a tropical cyclone, Rojas said. It will be locally named Fabian once it enters as a tropical cyclone.

“It is not expected to make landfall but it will enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring rains over the western and central portions of the country,” he said.

He said Mimaropa and Bicol region will experience scattered rains and thunderstorms beginning today due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.

Rainy weather will persist over Legazpi City and Metro Cebu until Sunday, he said.

The southwest monsoon will also bring rains over Metro Davao tomorrow and on Saturday.

Metro Manila will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening until Saturday. Cloudy skies with scattered rains will prevail over the capital on Sunday due to the southwest monsoon.