Weather: Floods, landslides still threaten north Luzon

Flash floods and landslides continue to threaten northern Luzon due to the southwest monsoon, even as a possible low-pressure area may form this week, state weather forecasters said Monday. "Northern Luzon will experience cloudy skies becoming widespread rains over the western section which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. Central Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms," the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. But PAGASA did not immediately assess the chances of the potential LPA becoming a cyclone. "We're looking at the possibility this week there might be an LPA that may develop over the eastern part of Visayas and Mindanao. Base sa forecast ng ating models may chance magkaroon ng development by Thursday or Friday," PAGASA forecaster Sonny Pajarilla said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said this is due to the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) becoming active again. The ITCZ is a genesis for LPAs, "which eventually develop into full-fledged tropical cyclones," he added. Pajarilla also said the southwest monsoon, which may bring rains that may cause flash floods and landslides over northern Luzon, may subside as Tropical Storm Falcon (Meari) moves further away from the Philippines. He said their models show Falcon likely to make landfall off the Yellow Sea. Thunderstorms in Metro Manila Pajarilla said that while Falcon may have left Philippine territory last Saturday, "isolated" rains and thunderstorms still loom over Metro Manila Monday. "Ang medyo hindi maganda, malakas ang chances natin magkaroon ng thunderstorm mamayang hapon at moist ang ating atmosphere. Pag nainitan yan magkaroon ng ulan, mamayang hapon mataas ang chance tingnan natin sa ating mga models," he said. (There is a high chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Our models show that when the atmosphere is moist and the weather is warm, rains are highly likely.) But he said the thunderstorms will be isolated, unlike last weekend's monsoon rains that were widespread and sustained. He added that the weather in Metro Manila is likely to improve greatly on Tuesday. — RSJ, GMA News