The cloud clusters near the country’s area of responsibility have formed into a low pressure area (LPA) on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 7, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA senior weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said the LPA was estimated 1,320 kilometers east of Mindanao around 3 p.m.

Based on the latest forecast, Ordinario said the LPA has a chance of becoming a tropical cyclone in the next few days.

He added that PAGASA will continue to monitor the weather disturbance as it may enter the Philippine area of ​​responsibility.

However, the LPA is still not expected to affect any part of the country in the next 24 hours, Ordinario said.

The shear line will be the dominant weather system that may continue to bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

PAGASA warned against possible flash floods or landslides during moderate to heavy rains.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA advised the public to remain vigilant as severe thunderstorms may also cause flash floods or landslides, especially in areas prone to these hazards.

Furthermore, a gale warning is currently raised in the northern, eastern, and western seaboards of northern Luzon, as the sea is expected to be rough to very rough.

“Fishing boats and other small sea craft are advised not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” PAGASA advised.