By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
A new low-pressure area (LPA), which may develop into a another tropical cyclone, has been monitored about 3,100 kilometers east-southeast of Mindanao, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Thursday.
(PAGASA / MANILA BULLETIN)
Weather specialist Ariel Rojas said the LPA has a high chance of developing into a cyclone and may enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
Once inside the PAR as a cyclone, the potential storm will be given a local name of “Queenie.”
Meanwhile, Typhoon “Paeng” (international name "Trami") maintained its strength while almost stationary over the Philippine Sea and is expected to move faster by Friday and exit PAR by Saturday.
PAGASA estimated the location of Paeng at 750 kilometers (km) east of Basco, Batanes beforeThursday noon.
It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 195 kph, while slowly moving towards southern Japan.
As Paeng leaves
The weather agency said Paeng is slightly enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat that may bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga Region.
PAGASA warned residents in these areas of possible flash floods or landslides due to at times heavy rains.
‘Amihan’
Weather specialist Nikos Peñaranda said the weakening southwest monsoon signals the beginning of the transition period to northeast monsoon or "amihan," a weather system associated with cold weather that prevails from late October to early March.
Weekend weather
Meanwhile, this weekend, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
Flash floods and landslides due to severe thunderstorms are also possible in these areas.
PAGASA advised seafarers of risky sea travel over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Visayas. Fishing boats and other small sea crafts were advised not to set sail into the sea, while larger sea vessels were alerted against rough to very rough seas in these areas.