By Ellalyn de Vera Ruiz
It will be a rainy week in Mindanao as a new low pressure area (LPA) east of General Santos City is expected to traverse the southern archipelago, and which may also develop to a tropical depression after emerging from the Sulu Sea.
(PAGASA/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Ariel Rojas said the LPA will bring moderate to occasional heavy rains over Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.
PAGASA estimated the location of the LPA at 290 kilometers east of General Santos City around Monday noon.
The LPA is expected to cross Mindanao on Tuesday and has a high chance of developing to a tropical depression over the Sulu Sea, Rojas said.
It will be called “Samuel” once it develops into a cyclone, he added. It will be the first cyclone this month and 19th this year.
The LPA will also bring scattered light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
PAGASA advised those in Mindanao, especially those living near river channels, and in low-lying and mountainous areas to take extra precaution against possible flooding and landslides.
Meanwhile, the tail-end of cold front will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Palawan, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon and Masbate.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains due to the northeast monsoon or amihan.