PAGASA tracks potential cyclone off Mindanao

State weather forecasters are keeping watch over a potential cyclone off Mindanao and an approaching storm from the Mariana Islands. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also warned of possible flash floods and landslides due to rains in Eastern Mindanao. "We are giving the low-pressure area (LPA) a 50-50 chance of becoming a tropical cyclone. It is not quite developed yet, but we are monitoring it," PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio Tuesday. If the LPA becomes a cyclone, it will be codenamed "Juan," she said. PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said the LPA was estimated at 600 km east of Mindanao as of 2 a.m. Also, Enriquez said PAGASA is keeping track of a storm in the Mariana Islands, which she said may possibly approach the Philippines. She did not say when the storm will approach Philippine territory. "We are also monitoring another storm off Mariana Islands. It may be far but it is very powerful," she said. Meanwhile, PAGASA said the eastern sections of Luzon and Visayas and the whole of Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Eastern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. — LBG, GMANews.TV