MANILA— Two low-pressure areas (LPAs) may form within Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this week and affect Northern Luzon but are unlikely to become tropical cyclones (TCs).
The LPAs can bring cloudiness as well as some rain and thunderstorms to Northern Luzon, including the northernmost Batanes province, noted weather forecaster Nikos Peñaranda from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). “However, such LPAs are least likely to develop into TCs,” he said.
A circulation over the Pacific can persist and by Wednesday become the first of two LPAs expected east of Luzon and inside PAR this week, said Peñaranda.
“That LPA may already weaken by Thursday and eventually dissipate while nearing Luzon landmass,” he said, adding that the second LPA may form around Friday.
Although the LPA will likely have better circulation, he said there is also a low chance for this weather system to become a TC and may dissipate either Sunday or Monday.
However, improvement in Northern Luzon’s weather – particularly in the northernmost areas – is unlikely after the first LPA dissipates as the expected convergence of the easterly and northeasterly winds later this week will mainly bring further cloudiness, rain and thunderstorms, Peñaranda said.
“It will be windy as well in extreme Northern Luzon,” he said, adding that he expects such conditions to prevail until this weekend.
Scattered rainshowers are also possible in Luzon’s eastern section, he said. As of Tuesday, PAGASA has monitored 14 TCs in the country since January. It has forecast one to two TCs inside PAR this October.
The Philippines averages 19 to 20 TCs annually, PAGASA added.