Weather: Bigger LPA approaching PHL, PAGASA says

A potential cyclone east of northern Luzon may bring rains to parts of Luzon Tuesday even as state weather forecasters are tracking a second, more powerful low-pressure area approaching Philippine territory from the east. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that while the LPA inside Philippine territory may become a cyclone, there is also a chance it may weaken because of the bigger LPA. "May chance [na] maging bagyo (ang LPA sa loob) dahil nasa dagat pero ayon sa pinapakita ng models natin, hihina siya so pwedeng hindi rin siya magiging bagyo. May malakas na LPA sa labas at may possibility maging bagyo within the next 24 hours so may tendency mamamatay ang LPA sa loob," PAGASA forecaster Connie Dadivas said in an interview on dzBB radio. (The LPA now inside Philippine territory is gaining strength. But our models show there is a possibility it may weaken and be influenced by the more powerful LPA approaching the Philippines. The LPA outside the Philippines is powerful, and there is a chance it will become a cyclone in the next 24 hours.) Should either of the two LPAs become a cyclone while inside Philippine territory, it will be codenamed "Hanna." But Dadivas also said there is a chance that should any of the LPAs become a cyclone, it will likely graze Luzon as it appears headed for Taiwan. "May possibility na papasok kaya lang halos sa bandang boundary ng Philippine area of responsibility, sa east na siya ng Taiwan kung papasok siya (If the LPA outside Philippine territory enters Philippine territory, it may merely graze Luzon and head for Taiwan)," she said. Also, Dadivas said the bigger LPA may cause rains on Saturday and Sunday in Metro Manila and Luzon; and rains over the Visayas on Friday and Saturday. She said it can still enhance the monsoon even if it is far away. Meanwhile, PAGASA said the LPA inside Philippine territory was estimated at 1,020 km east of northern Luzon, while the southwest monsoon is affecting northern Luzon and Central Luzon. "Northern and Central Luzon will experience occasional rains becoming frequent over the western section. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. — RSJ, GMA News