Weather: PAGASA closely watching equatorial convergence zone
Aside from a low-pressure area that may intensify into a cyclone later this week, state weather forecasters are also keeping watch over the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) now affecting parts of the country. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the ITCZ can serve as the origin of several potential cyclones that may threaten parts of the country. According to Oxford Dictionaries, an ITCZ is "a narrow zone near the equator where northern and southern air masses converge, typically producing low atmospheric pressure." Encyclopaedia Britannica said the ITCZ, also known as an equatorial convergence zone, "is a belt of converging trade winds and rising air that encircles the Earth near the Equator." The rising air can produce high cloudiness, frequent thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall, it added. In an interview over radio dzBB on Monday, PAGASA forecaster Sonny Pajarilla said, “Ito ang masusi nating binabantayan. Sa ating kasalukuyang models ito may sunod-sunod na circulation silangan ng Mindanao na tinitingnan natin baka pwede anytime mag-develop into full fledged LPA." PAGASA said the ITCZ is affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Earlier Monday, PAGASA said it is keeping an eye on an LPA northeast of Visayas, which can potentially intensify into a tropical cyclone. If the LPA becomes a cyclone, it will be named “Ramon." Pajarilla said their present models show the LPA will become a tropical depression and threaten Northern Luzon but may not pose as big a threat as “Pedring" (Nesat) and “Quiel" (Nalgae). - VVP, GMA News