Trough of LPA to bring scattered rains over Palawan, Caraga

The trough or extension of a low pressure area (LPA) outside the country's area of responsibility is expected to bring rain showers and thunderstorms over Palawan and southern Mindanao, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Tuesday, March 1.

Weather specialist Grace Castañeda said the LPA is not expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) but will bring rains over Palawan, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.

PAGASA advised those in Palawan province and Caraga region to stay vigilant against possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to the easterlies and localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA also advised the public to remain vigilant as severe thunderstorms may sometimes trigger flash floods or landslides.

The Philippines may have "zero or one" tropical cyclone this month, said the PAGASA citing the monthly average tropical cyclone frequency inside the country's area of responsibility between 1948 and 2020.

Based on the tropical cyclone's historical tracks, PAGASA said tropical cyclones that form in March may enter the PAR but recurve back to the Pacific Ocean.

Other cyclones that form over the Western Pacific may enter the PAR and make landfall in Central Philippines before dissipating in the South China Sea.

Even with a slim chance of tropical cyclone formation this month, PAGASA said Visayas and Mindanao may still receive "above normal" rainfall while Luzon may have "near-normal" rainfall except for the northwestern portion where "below normal" rainfall conditions are expected.