New LPA to bring rains, may become cyclone this weekend

Threatening to become a cyclone, a new weather disturbance will bring rains to parts of Luzon and the Visayas area Thursday, state weather agency said. According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the low-pressure area (LPA) was located some 600 km west of Northern Luzon as of 2 a.m. "Bigyan natin ng 50-50 chance. Kahit di maging bagyo pwede ito magdulot ng ulan sa Northern and Central Luzon (We are giving it a 50-50 chance of intensifying into a cyclone. But even if it does not, it will still bring rains to Northern and Central Luzon)," PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio. Should the LPA become a cyclone, it would be codenamed "Basyang," which is likely to intensify "this weekend." Enriquez warned the public to be prepared because the news LPA would bring rains that could trigger floods. "Ito ay bagong LPA, sa bandang kanluran natin, sa South China Sea. Pag dito galing, magiging alert tayo dahil sa malapit ito sa atin… at pwede mag-trigger sa southwest monsoon at magbigay ng ulan sa Northern and Central Luzon (This LPA is a new one, from the South China Sea. If it originates from there, we must be alert because it can trigger the southwest monsoon and bring rains to Northern and Central Luzon)," she said. Earlier this year, the first weather disturbance that intensified into a cyclone and entered Philippine territory was codenamed "Agaton," but it did not have an impact on any part of the country. Cooler weather Meanwhile, Enriquez said cooler weather will likely prevail over Metro Manila. She said the highest temperature recorded Wednesday was at 31.7 degrees Celsius at 9:50 a.m. "Maganda ang panahon kahapon, inaasahan natin magandang temperature ang mararanasan ngayong araw na ito (It was a cool day Wednesday and we expect it to be as cool this Thursday)," she said. PAGASA's extended forecast for Metro Manila indicated the temperature range for Thursday will be between 26 to 31 degrees Celsius. Temperatures for Tuguegarao City will be between 23 and 34 degrees. — LBG, GMANews.TV