The low pressure area (LPA) off Eastern Samar may traverse the central part of the country and bring rains over Mindanao, Visayas, and Southern Luzon in the next few days, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday afternoon, Oct. 22.
The LPA, which is embedded along the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), was estimated at 415 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar at around 3 p.m.
PAGASA weather specialist Joey Figuracion said the weather disturbance has a slim chance of intensifying into a tropical depression but may traverse the Visayas, Mindanao, and Palawan as an LPA.
The LPA will likely affect Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao within the next three days, he added.
In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may prevail over Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Soccksargen, and the Visayas.
Meanwhile, the northeasterly surface wind flow may continue to bring partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with isolated light rains over Batanes and Cagayan.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have generally fair weather conditions due to partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms from the ITCZ and localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA reminded the public to remain vigilant against possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.
The State weather bureau on Friday afternoon raised a gale warning over the northern and western seaboards of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, northern Cagayan, and the Babuyan Islands due to rough to very rough seas triggered by the northeasterly surface wind flow.
"Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," PAGASA said.