Weather: PAGASA spots potential cyclone off Dagupan

A potential cyclone — a shallow low-pressure area — moved toward northern Luzon even as state weather forecasters warned of flash floods and landslides over parts of northern and Central Luzon Sunday afternoon. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the SLPA was estimated in the area of Dagupan City as of 2 p.m., embedded along the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the ITCZ was affecting Luzon and Visayas. "Luzon and Visayas will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Northern and Central Luzon which may trigger flash floods and landslides," it said. Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, it added. Should the SLPA become a cyclone while inside Philippine territory, it will be codenamed "Sendong." However, Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said earlier that if the SLPA were to become a cyclone, it may do so after exiting Philippine territory. PAGASA earlier said it expects at least two cyclones to enter Philippine territory this month. Menwhile, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the east will prevail over Extreme Northern Luzon and coming from the southwest to southeast over the rest of Luzon and the 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. - KBK, GMA News