Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may prevail over the eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao due to the trough of a low pressure area (LPA) spotted east southeast of southeastern Mindanao, the state weather bureau warned on Monday morning, Jan. 2.
Latest data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) showed that the LPA was last seen 870 kilometers (km) east southeast of southeastern Mindanao outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
To date, the weather disturbance remains less likely to develop into a cyclone.
“Inaasahan natin ngayong araw, at posible hanggang sa susunod na araw ng linggong ito, na posibleng maulan partikular na sa Central at Eastern Visayas, gayundin sa Caraga at Davao Region (Today, and possibly until the next days of this week, we are expecting that it may rain especially in Central and Eastern Visayas, as well as in Caraga and Davao Region),” said PAGASA Weather Specialist Obet Badrina in a public weather forecast.
Aside from the LPA, the northeast monsoon, locally called “amihan,” is also affecting parts of the country. It is particularly blowing cold winds and causing cloudy skies with rains in Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Quezon, Bicol Region, Metro Manila, and the rest of Luzon.
Due to the strong to gale force winds associated with the northeast monsoon, gale warning is still hoisted over the eastern seaboards of Luzon as well as the western and northern seaboards of northern Luzon.
Fishing boats and other small sea vessels were strongly advised not to venture out into the sea due to rough sea conditions.