Low-pressure area cause of Bicol rains - Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines - Strong winds and rains lashed several provinces in Bicol region early Monday morning as state weather forecasters traced the phenomenon to a budding low-pressure area off Mindanao. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) director Prisco Nilo said there is no storm affecting the region at this time. "As of this morning may kaulapan 200-300 km east of Surigao, maaring low-pressure area ito, maaring ito ang nagpapaibayo ng amihan (As of this morning there is a formation 200 to 300 km east of Surigao. This may form into a low-pressure area and may be enhancing monsoon winds)," Nilo said in an interview on dzRH radio. He said this is aside from the tail end of a cold front at affecting mainly eastern Visayas, and the moderate to strong northeasterly windflow over Luzon and Visayas. The weather pattern is also affecting eastern Visayas and northwestern Mindanao, he added. Nilo admitted the weather patterns, including the strong winds now at Bicol, are unusual and are likely a result of the La Niña weather phenomenon. "Siya talaga ang dahilan bakit medyo malakas ang pag-ulan na nararanasan natin. Napaka-abnormal yung dami ng ulan at halos linggo-linggo bumabaha Bicol at Eastern Visayas (La Niña is the reason for these unusual weather patterns. This is considered abnormal, especially with rains flooding Bicol and Eastern Visayas almost every week)," he said. Pagasa's 5 a.m. advisory said Eastern Visayas will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the northeast with slight to moderate seas. - GMANews.TV