Weather: Potential cyclone nears Samar, may cause floods, landslides

A low-pressure area earlier expected to intensify into a cyclone moved closer to Samar in Eastern Visayas before noon Friday, with state weather forecasters warning it may cause possible flash floods and landslides. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the LPA was estimated at 110 km east of Guiuan in Eastern Samar as of 8 a.m., embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). "Both weather systems will bring scattered to widespread rains over Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," it said in an 11 a.m. advisory. PAGASA forecaster Aldczar Aurelio added their forecast models now indicate the LPA has a slim chance of intensifying into a cyclone. Aurelio said the LPA is likely to make landfall on Visayas and dissolve. "Itong LPA, maliit ang tsansa o hindi na magiging bagyo (Based on our data, this LPA has little to no chance of becoming a cyclone)," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. Earlier, PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said their models show a new LPA may form off the Caroline Islands and may become a cyclone that might enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday. Should the LPA become a cyclone in Philippine territory, it will be codenamed "Ramon." Quitlong said their models at present indicate the new potential cyclone may threaten the Isabela-Cagayan area, which had been pounded by recent cyclones Pedring (Nesat) and Quiel (Nalgae). — RSJ, GMA News