Rainy Christmas in Visayas, Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — A low-pressure area (LPA) may develop in southern Mindanao over the weekend, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said cloud clusters in the area could form into a low-pressure area by tomorrow.

PAGASA said the easterlies and the tail-end of a frontal system would also bring rains over parts of Mindanao, the Visayas and Palawan.

It warned the public of floods and landslides due to prolonged rains.

“Let’s be careful amid the Christmas revelry. Be alert and ready at all times,” PAGASA weather specialist Ariel Rojas said.

Davao and Cebu will experience cloudy skies and rains by weekend.

Fair weather with isolated light rains due to the northeastern monsoon or amihan will prevail in Metro Manila.

Temperature forecast is between 24 to 31 degrees Celsius.

The northeastern monsoon is affecting parts of extreme Northern Luzon. It will bring light rains over Baguio City today and tomorrow.

Fair weather is expected on Sunday.

Meanwhile, damage to agriculture in areas affected by Tropical Depression Vicky has reached P130 million.

In its latest bulletin, the Department of Agriculture-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center said 21,008 hectares of agricultural land were damaged.

At least 16,761 farmers in Cagayan Valley, Davao and Caraga were affected. – Louise Maureen Simeon