The low-pressure area (LPA) east of the country entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility this morning, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA estimated the location of the LPA at 820 kilometers east of Davao City around 3 a.m.
Weather specialist Shelly Ignacio said there is a slim chance that the LPA will intensify into a tropical depression but PAGASA is still not totally eliminating the possibility of intensification.
Whether the LPA becomes a tropical depression or not, Ignacio said the weather disturbance may still bring rains as it is anticipated to move across the central part of the Philippines over the weekend.
As early as today, the trough or extension of the LPA is bringing scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental.
PAGASA warned against possible flash floods or landslides that may occur during moderate to heavy rainfall.
Likewise, rains may persist over some areas in Luzon due to a strong northeast monsoon or "amihan."
Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province will have cloudy skies with monsoon rains.
Moderate to heavy monsoon rains may also trigger flash floods or landslides in these areas, PAGASA warned.
Isolated light amihan rains may also prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon but may have no significant impact over these areas, the State weather bureau said.
The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms. The public is advised to take precautionary measures in case flash floods or landslides occur during severe thunderstorms.
A gale warning was still in effect on Thursday due to strong to gale force winds associated with the surge of amihan.
Rough to very rough seas, with waves that may reach 2.8 to 4.5 meters, may prevail over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon, and eastern seaboards of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Fishing boats and other small boats were advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels were asked to remain alert against big waves.