PAGASA expects potential tropical cyclone to enter PHL Tuesday night

MANILA — A potential cyclone is expected to enter the country’s area of responsibility Tuesday night, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Alvin Pura said a low-pressure area (LPA) hovering east of the Visayas is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in the next six hours.

He noted that the LPA has a high chance to become tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours.

Should the LPA develop into a tropical depression, it will be named “Florita” – the first cyclone to enter the country this month and the sixth for this year, Pura said, adding that the agency expects two to three cyclones to visit the country this month.

Meanwhile, in the next 24 hours, Pura said the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is affecting Southern Luzon and the Visayas.

ITCZ, which is the thick clouds coming from the south of Asia, is considered a breeding ground for low-pressure areas or potential cyclones.

Pura said the ITCZ is moving up as it also affects some parts of Luzon.

In PAGASA’s 5 p.m. advisory, Pura said the Visayas, Mindanao and the regions of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), and Bicol will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.