Weather: Potential cyclone not likely to make landfall

A potential cyclone expected to enter Philippine territory early next week is not likely to make landfall and may head for Taiwan instead, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Friday. But PAGASA also warned of flash floods and landslides in parts of the Bicol Region, Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas for Friday due to an inter-tropical convergence zone. "Hindi naman ito malakas, medyo malapit na ito ... Kung ma-develop ito weekend or early next week papasok ito sa Philippine area of responsibility (We do not expect it to be powerful because it is relatively near Philippine territory. We expect it to develop into a cyclone this weekend or early next week)," PAGASA forecaster Sonny Pajarilla said of the potential cyclone, a low-pressure area, in an interview on dzBB radio. If the LPA becomes a cyclone while inside Philippine territory, it will be codenamed "Juaning." Pajarilla also said that while the potential cyclone may get near Bicol and Eastern Visayas and Mindanao, it is not likely to directly affect any part of the country. "Lalapit ito sa silangan ng Mindanao at Visayas, at ito ay inaasahan natin lalapit din sa Kabikulan. Hindi naman siya direktang magla-landfall kung saka-sakali. Ito ay papuntang Taiwan (Our models for now show it may get near the eastern part of Mindanao and Visayas, and Bicol. But it is not likely to make landfall and may even head for Taiwan)," he said. Flash floods, landslides For Friday, PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said the inter-tropical convergence zone may bring rains over parts of the country, particularly Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. "Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, Mindoro, Panay Island and Palawan which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," it said. PAGASA added that the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. — RSJ, GMA News