PAGASA keeps watch over potential cyclone

State weather forecasters are monitoring a low-pressure area (LPA) off Mindanao that may potentially become the second cyclone to enter Philippine territory this year. But the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA is not likely to affect the country even if it intensifies into a cyclone. “Ipinapakita sa model na lalakas siya pero di natin ine-expect magiging bagyo sa ngayon. Kung magiging bagyo, hindi natin ine-expect na tatama sa lupa," PAGASA forecaster Connie Dadivas said in an interview on dzBB radio. At most, she said that if the LPA becomes a cyclone and is code-named “Bebeng," it will bring rains to parts of Visayas and Mindanao. Earlier this year, the first tropical cyclone in Philippine territory, “Amang," also did not affect the country directly as it moved away from the Philippines quickly. Dadivas said that regardless of whether the LPA becomes a cyclone, Metro Manila will still experience hot weather, between 23 and 34 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. She said the forecast temperatures in Metro Manila on Thursday will be between 23 and 35 degrees Celsius; 24 to 35 degrees on Friday; and 24 to 36 degrees on Saturday. Temperatures are likely to be hottest at noon until 4 p.m., she said. “Medyo mainit pa rin ang panahon natin ... Hanggang April 21 posibleng magkaroon ng kalat-kalat na pag-ulan sa Visayas at Mindanao," she said. PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin said that as of 2 a.m. Tuesday, the LPA was estimated at 860 km east of Southern Mindanao, embedded along the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Eastern Visayas and Mindanao. It also noted a cold front across Extreme Northern Luzon. “Extreme Northern Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms. Mindanao and Eastern Visayas will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," it said. — LBG, GMA News