The low pressure area (LPA) east of Northern Luzon may intensify into a tropical cyclone after it enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), the state weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the weather disturbance was last spotted at 1,470 kilometer (km) east of Northern Luzon as of 3 p.m. Thursday, July 15.
Weather specialist Ariel Rojas said the LPA will be inside the PAR in the next six to 12 hours.
“In the next 24 to 36 hours ay posibleng maging isang bagyo na ang LPA sa loob ng PAR (there is a possibility that the LPA will be develop into a tropical cyclone inside the PAR),” Rojas said.
He added that it will be given a local name “Fabian” once it intensify into a cyclone inside the PAR.
Rojas said the weather disturbance will not hit the country’s landmass, but he noted that it is seen to enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat” that would bring rains over the northern portion of the country.
Meanwhile, the habagat currently affects the western section of Southern Luzon and Visayas, bringing moderate to heavy rains especially in Palawan.
Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may be experienced in the Ilocos Region, Abra, and Benguet due to the LPA and habagat.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the habagat and localized thunderstorms.
On the other hand, another LPA has formed inside the PAR, and was last spotted at about 140 km northwest of Laoag City as of 3 p.m.
Rojas said the LPA has a slim chance of developing into a cyclone, and it will move north towards the West Philippine Sea, away from the Luzon landmass.