LPA passes over north Luzon, unlikely to become cyclone

A low-pressure area (LPA) passed over Northern Luzon early Thursday but state weather forecasters said it was not likely to intensify into a cyclone. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Connie Dadivas said the LPA was already starting to dissipate. "Ngayon medyo nagdi-dissipate na siya. Ine-expect natin matutunaw o lalabas ng boundary na LPA pa rin (The LPA is now dissipating. We expect it to dissolve or exit Philippine territory as an LPA)," Dadivas said in an interview on dzBB radio. She also said there is no other LPA near Philippine territory at this time. As of 2 a.m., PAGASA said the LPA was estimated at 290 km north-northeast of Basco, Batanes, while an Intertropical Convergence Zone is affecting southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. "Extreme northern Luzon and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. Moderate winds coming from the South and Southwest will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate. Light to moderate winds coming from the Northeast and East will prevail over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas. — LBG, GMANews.TV