Weather: New potential cyclone forms off Ilocos

Flash floods and landslides threaten several parts of Luzon even as a "new" low-pressure area was monitored off Ilocos Sur Tuesday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also warned of a possible cyclone entering Philippine territory early next week. "Sa ngayon magiging isang LPA lang siya at makikita natin matutunaw rin siya (For now our models do not show the LPA off Ilocos becoming a cyclone. It is likely to dissipate)," PAGASA forecaster Ricky Fabregas said in an interview on dzBB radio. But Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said the LPA is Tropical Depression Lando that had been re-formed. He said they do not discount the possibility it may become a cyclone again. "Yung tropical depression ‘Lando’ ay natunaw kahapon at naging LPA. Natunaw siya kagabi (pero) kanina nag-re-intensify siya. LPA uli siya ngayon kaya babantayin natin siya. Pag naging LPA uli at naging tropical depression magkakaroon uli tayo ng bagyo sa kanluaran ng Ilocos Sur," Yumul said in an interview on dwIZ radio. (‘Lando’ dissipated Monday and became an LPA. The LPA dissipated Monday night but re-intensified earlier today. We are keeping an eye on it. If it becomes an LPA and becomes a tropical depression again, we may have two cyclones in Philippine territory.) PAGASA said the LPA was estimated at 170 km west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur as of 4 a.m. But Fabregas also said there is little chance the LPA will merge with Typhoon Kabayan (Muifa), which is heading towards Southern Japan. "Medyo malayo ang distansya sa isa't isa (The LPA and 'Kabayan' are too far from each other)," Fabregas said of the chances of the LPA merging with Kabayan. Fabregas added Kabayan is expected to exit Philippine territory Thursday. On the other hand, Yumul said a new tropical depression is due to enter Philippine territory Monday next week. "Pagpasok niya tropical depression level na siya. Tatawagin natin siyang 'Mina' (Once it enters Philippine territory it will be a tropical depression. We will codename it 'Mina')," Yumul said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Citing PAGASA data, Yumul said Mina is likely to affect the Bicol-Samar area. Flash floods, landslides As of 4 a.m., PAGASA said Kabayan was estimated at 1,120 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph. It said Kabayan is forecast to move northwest at 13 kph. "Central and Northern Luzon and the western section of Southern Luzon will experience monsoon rains which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. Visayas and the rest of Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Mindanao will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. It said moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and the Visayas and coming from the south to southwest over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough, it added. PAGASA also said Kabayan weakened slightly as it remains in the Philippine Sea. It forecast Kabayan to be 980 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes Tuesday evening, and 790 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes Wednesday evening. By Thursday evening, it is expected to be 165 km southeast of Okinawa, Japan Gale warning Meanwhile, PAGASA warned of strong to gale-force winds associated with Kabayan. It said these winds may affect the northern seaboard of northern Luzon, the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon and the Eastern seaboards of Luzon and the Visayas. "Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. — RSJ, GMA News