Weather: 'Mina' may intensify, bring rains to parts of PHL

Tropical Depression Mina may intensify and continue to bring rain over parts of the country, even as state weather forecasters monitor another possible cyclone that may form inside the Philippines before the end of August. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Mario Palafox said Mina may intensify slightly. "Sa ngayon ay pwedeng lumakas nguni't hindi makakaabot ng typhoon category (It is likely to intensify but it is not likely to go beyond being a tropical depression)," Palafox said in an interview on dzBB radio. He also said Mina will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon although it will not affect the country directly as it is likely to move away from the Philippines. PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said that as of 4 a.m., Mina was estimated at 320 km east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum winds of 45 kph near the center. It is forecast to move north northwest at 7 kph. PAGASA's 11 p.m. Monday advisory said Mina was expected to be 885 km east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora Tuesday evening, and 890 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Wednesday evening. By Thursday evening it is expected to be 1,110 km east of Basco, Batanes. 2nd cyclone Palafox also said a second cyclone may enter or form inside Philippine territory before the end of August. "Ang forecast natin dalawa o tatlo ngayon pero baka di natin abutin ang tatlo, may posibilidad ang dalawa (Our forecast was that there may be two or three cyclones this August. We may no longer have three cyclones, but a second before the end of this month is possible)," he said. Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said they are monitoring a low-pressure area at the West Philippine Sea that may become a cyclone. If the LPA becomes a cyclone, it will be locally codenamed "Nonoy." "Sa may West Philippine Sea, tapat ng Zambales kung hindi magbabago ay magiging tropical depression," Yumul said in an interview on dzXL radio. Rain on parts of NCR Meanwhile, PAGASA recorded moderate to heavy rain from a thunderstorm on Parañaque, Muntinlupa and Las Piñas Cities early Tuesday. — RSJ, GMA News