Weather: Floods, landslides loom over Central Luzon

Flash floods and landslides loom over parts of Central Luzon due to a low-pressure area and the southwest monsoon, state weather forecasters said Tuesday afternoon. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was estimated at 960 km east of Central Luzon. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA also said the southwest monsoon is affecting northern and Central Luzon. "Northern and Central Luzon will experience occasional rains becoming frequent over the Western section of Central Luzon which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," it said. PAGASA did not say if the LPA will intensify into a cyclone, although forecaster Connie Dadivas earlier said it may weaken due to a more powerful LPA approaching the Philippines. But if either LPA becomes a cyclone while in Philippine territory, it will be codenamed "Hanna." Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the Southeast to Southwest with slight to moderate seas. — KBK, GMA News