Weather: SLPA moves away from PHL but will enhance monsoon

A shallow low-pressure area (SLPA) that state weather forecasters said has a low chance of becoming a cyclone is moving away from Philippine territory, but is enhancing the southwest monsoon. On Tuesday, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Sonny Pajarilla said the SLPA's effect on the monsoon will bring rain to Central and Southern Luzon and the Visayas. "Mababa ang chances na mag-develop ito into a full-fledged tropical cyclone... bagama't ang presence nito na-aggravate o napapalakas uli ang habagat (It has a low chance of becoming a full-fledged cyclone ... but its presence will enhance the southwest monsoon)," Pajarilla said in an interview on dzBB radio. Northern Luzon and Northern Mindanao will have sunny weather and partly cloudy skies with isolated rain showers in the afternoon and evening, he added. If the SLPA becomes a cyclone while in Philippine territory, it will be locally codenamed "Nonoy." However, PAGASA said Monday it does not expect any cyclone in Philippine territory until at least Friday. Also, Pajarilla said the SLPA is moving northeast, away from the Philippine area of responsibility. PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin indicated the SLPA was estimated at 850 km east of Luzon. "Central and Southern Luzon and the Visayas will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening," it said. It added that light to moderate winds blowing from the southwest to south will prevail over the country and the coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate. — RSJ, GMA News