PAGASA: Low pressure area nears E. Visayas

A potential cyclone - a shallow low-pressure area - inched closer to Samar in Eastern Visayas Saturday afternoon, even as state weather forecasters warned of possible flash floods and landslides on the eastern part of the country. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administtration said the SLPA was estimated at 330 km east-northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar as of 2 p.m. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the SLPA was embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting the country. "The whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Eastern Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao which may trigger flash floods and landslides," it said. Should the SLPA become a cyclone while inside Philippine territory, it will be codenamed "Sendong." Moderate to strong winds blowing from the east will prevail over Luzon and coming from the southwest to southeast over Eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the southwest to southeast with slight to moderate seas. Meanwhile, PAGASA said strong to gale-force winds associated with the surge of northeasterly surface windflow may affect the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Luzon and Visayas. "Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. — ELR, GMA News