The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is still not discounting the possibility that the low pressure area (LPA) east of southeastern Mindanao may develop into a tropical depression.

In a public weather forecast on Friday morning, Dec. 15, PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said the LPA, which was estimated 1,595 kilometers east of southeastern Mindanao, may enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Saturday, Dec. 16.

If it develops into a tropical depression inside the PAR, Badrina said it will be given the local name “Kabayan.”

“It will not directly affect any part of the country today or tomorrow, (Dec. 15 or 16) but we are anticipating rains in the Visayas and Mindanao, particularly in the eastern sections, on Sunday (Dec. 17),” he said.

“Regardless of whether the LPA turns into a tropical depression, we are already warning people in Visayas and Mindanao—especially in Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and the Davao Region—that there is a high likelihood of rains in these areas starting on Sunday,” he added.

Meanwhile, Badrina said a slightly weaker northeast monsoon, or “amihan,” may bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains to the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon over the next 24 hours.

The rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers caused by localized thunderstorms or easterlies, or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean.