LPA enters PAR; rainy in Visayas and Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — A low-pressure area (LPA) spotted off Mindanao entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) yesterday. Its trough will continue to bring rain over parts of the country, according to the state weather bureau.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was monitored 925 kilometers east of southeastern Mindanao as of yesterday afternoon.

PAGASA said the weather disturbance is not likely to develop into a tropical depression, but it would bring moderate to heavy rain over Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, Eastern Visayas and Palawan.

Light to heavy rain may be experienced over the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao.

A tropical cyclone may enter or develop in PAR this month, PAGASA had earlier said.

Meanwhile, cloudy skies with rain are forecast over Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Norte, Cordillera Administrative Region, Bicol as well as Aurora and Quezon provinces due to the northeast monsoon or amihan.

PAGASA warned the public of flashfloods and landslides during heavy rain.

The northeast monsoon will bring cloudy skies with light rain over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, which according to PAGASA has no significant impact.

In Zamboanga del Norte, classes in all levels in public and private schools in the cities of Dapitan and Dipolog were suspended on Tuesday due to flooding amid heavy rain spawned by the LPA.

The disaster risk reduction and management offices of the two cities recommended the class suspension as the orange rainfall warning was raised due to the LPA.

Two major highways in Dapitan were rendered impassable to all types of vehicles as floods inundated Barangays Burgos, Barcelona and Sinonoc. – Roel Pareño