The low pressure area (LPA) that has been bringing scattered rains over Mindanao in the past few days has entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday morning, March 31.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Benison Estareja said the LPA was estimated at 180 kilometers southwest of General Santos City around 3 a.m.
"The LPA is already bringing rains over a large part of Mindanao, while the trough or extension of the LPA is also bringing rains to some parts of the Visayas," Estareja said during PAGASA's daily weather forecast.
He added that the LPA will move west slowly in the next three days or until Friday, April 2, and may traverse the Sulu archipelago and Sulu Sea.
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected until the rest of the week, he said.
Meanwhile, Estareja said the warm and humid easterlies originating from the Pacific Ocean will continue to affect Luzon and the rest of Visayas
"Expect generally fair weather conditions over a large part of Luzon and some areas in Visayas," he added.
Based on the PAGASA's extended weather outlook for key areas from April 1 to April 4, maximum air temperatures will be 33-34 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila, 35-36 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao City, 25-26 degrees Celsius in Baguio City, 31-32 degrees Celsius in Tagaytay City, 31-33 degrees Celsius in Puerto Princesa City, 32-33 degrees Celsius in Metro Cebu, 31-33 degrees Celsius in Metro Davao, and 31-34 degrees Celsius in Zamboanga City.
Estareja said the heat index will be about 3-4 degrees Celsius higher than the actual air temperature.
Heat index refers to how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.