The low pressure area (LPA) east of Mindanao remains likely to become a tropical depression and bring rains over several parts of Visayas and Mindanao in the next few days, a weather specialist said on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Ana Clauren of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was still outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) or 1,500 kilometers east of Mindanao around 2 a.m., Feb. 16.
PAGASA's latest forecast shows the LPA will enter the PAR by Wednesday, Feb. 17, then will move towards Visayas and Mindanao in the next few days, Clauren said.
The weather disturbance will be named "Auring" if it develops into the country's first tropical cyclone this year.
As of Tuesday, Clauren said the tail-end of frontal system remains the dominant weather system causing rains in Visayas and Mindanao, while the LPA has no direct effect yet over any part of the country.
It may continue to rain for the next four days because as the LPA gradually approaches the country, its trough or extension may also begin to slowly bring rains over Visayas and Mindanao, she explained.
If the forecast track slightly moves upward, the potential cyclone may also directly affect parts of Southern Luzon, she pointed out.
Clauren advised the public to remain vigilant because whether it intensifies into a tropical depression or remains as an LPA, the weather disturbance may still bring significant rainfall over most of Visayas and Mindanao.
Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or "amihan" continues to bring cloudy skies and light rains over Metro Manila, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Occidental Mindoro.
The rest of Luzon may also experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light amihan rains.