Weather: Potential cyclone approaches southern Luzon

A low-pressure area initially expected to become a cyclone moved toward southern Luzon Friday afternoon, even as state weather forecasters warned of possible flash floods and landslides in several parts of the country. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the LPA was estimated at 150 km east of Southern Luzon as of 2 p.m. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the LPA was embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Late last month, the country was struck by Typhoons Pedring and Quiel. Records from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as of early Friday showed that the death toll from the cyclones has reached 90 and that damage to property has breached the P12-billion mark. Earlier, PAGASA forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said there was very little chance the LPA would intensify into a cyclone. However, another forecaster, Gener Quitlong, indicated another low-pressure area may form outside the Philippines and intensify into a cyclone before entering Philippine territory this Monday. Should the new disturbance become a cyclone and enter Philippine territory, it will be locally codenamed "Ramon." Meanwhile, PAGASA said the whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao which may trigger flash floods and landslides. — RSJ, GMA News