PAGASA tracking new LPA off Visayas; rainy Thursday due to ‘habagat’

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MANILA — A new low pressure area (LPA) has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Buddy Javier said that as 4 a.m. the LPA was spotted some 800 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar but will not affect the country as of now.

He added that in the next 24 hours the LPA has a small chance to intensify into tropical cyclone.

But Javier said the weather bureau continues to monitor the LPA and once it develops into a tropical depression inside the country it will be locally named “Inday”, the ninth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.

Every year, an average of about 18 to 20 storms affect the Philippines, according to the PAGASA.

Meanwhile, Javier said that rains is expected in most parts of the country including Metro Manila due to southwest monsoon.

According to Javier the southwest monsoon or “hanging habagat” affecting Luzon — which is associated with the occurrence of intermittent to continuous rains — is the prevailing wind system during the rainy season.

For Thursday forecast, Javier said the provinces of Zambales, Bataan and Pangasinan will experience monsoon rains while Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas and the rest of Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) will have occasional rains.

He added the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Strong to gale force winds associated with the surge of southwest monsoon as enhanced by tropical storm “Henry” affects the western seaboard of Luzon.

“Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned.

In its advisory, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over northern and western Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.