Weather: New potential cyclone spotted east of Mindanao

Flash floods and landslides loom over western Luzon and eastern Mindanao due to two potential cyclones forming near the two areas Saturday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the new low-pressure area (LPA) off Mindanao was estimated at 420 km east of Mindanao as of 8 a.m. "[The new LPA] might bring widespread rains over Eastern Mindanao that may cause flashfloods and landslides," it said in its 11 a.m. advisory. Meanwhile, PAGASA said the LPA over extreme northern Luzon was estimated at 420 km northeast of Basco town in Batanes province. PAGASA said the LPA over Luzon and the southwest monsoon are expected to bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Luzon, "becoming widespread rains over its Western section which may trigger flashfloods and landslides." But PAGASA did not assess the chances of the new LPA becoming a cyclone. Meanwhile, weather site Typhoon2000 said in its 7:14 a.m. update there is a chance of a tropical cyclone formation between July 13 and 18. It said the cyclone formations is possible along the coast of Southern China-Taiwan Area and over the sea south of Japan (Western Pacific Ocean). — LBG, GMA News