PAGASA: LPA may bring flash floods, landslides to Batanes

A low-pressure area (LPA) may bring flash floods and landslides to the Batanes Islands in Extreme Northern Luzon, state weather forecasters said on Tuesday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was 390 kilometers west-northwest of Laoag City as of 8:00 a.m. "This disturbance is expected to bring scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms over Northern Luzon becoming widespread rains over Batanes Group of Islands which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," PAGASA said in its 10:30 a.m. advisory. Earlier, PAGASA forecaster Manny Mendoza said the LPA will likely not become a cyclone but will still bring rains. "Sa aming pagtaya ito lalabas ng Philippine area of responsibility in the next 12 hours. Tiningnan namin sa model, hindi na ito magiging bagyo," Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio. However, he said the LPA may intensify into a cyclone once outside the Philippines as it can still gather strength while in the South China Sea. Mendoza said their models also show the LPA may head for Vietnam. - VVP, GMA News