Weather: LPA may become cyclone while exiting PHL

A low-pressure area may become intensify into a cyclone on Wednesday but is likely to do so while exiting Philippine territory, state weather forecasters said Tuesday. Still, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Elson Dianela said the LPA may bring flash floods and landslides to several parts of the country. "Lalabas ito bandang Miyerkules. May posibilidad maging bagyo pag hindi nagbago ang lakas sa susunod na araw pero di ito makakaapekto sa Metro Manila (It may become a cyclone by Wednesday if it does not change its strength or course. But it is not likely to affect Metro Manila)," Dianela said in an interview on dzBB radio. When asked when the LPA may become a cyclone, he said their models indicate it would do so on Wednesday, when it heads for the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Should the LPA become a cyclone while inside Philippine territory, it will be locally codenamed "Sendong." "Pero pwede magbago ito; kung naghina pwede mawala (But it can still change. There is also a chance it may weaken and dissolve)," Dianela said. LPA bringing rains to NCR In the meantime, Dianela said the LPA's clouds are bringing rain to parts of Metro Manila. "Umaabot ang kanyang kaulapan, medyo malawak umaabot sa atin (Its clouds are reaching Metro Manila)," he said. PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin indicated the LPA was estimated at 95 km north northeast of Surigao City as of 2 a.m. "The whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Eastern Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Western Mindanao which may trigger flash floods and landslides," it said. It also said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and the Visayas and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest to southeast over Mindanao with slight to moderate seas, it added. Gale warning PAGASA also said strong to gale-force winds associated with the surge of northeasterly surface windflow may affect the seaboards of Northern Luzon. "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. — RSJ, GMA News