A low pressure area (LPA) was spotted outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) and its trough or extension is bringing cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in the eastern section of Mindanao, said the state weather bureau on Sunday morning, March 19. 

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Weather Specialist Grace Castañeda said the weather disturbance remains “less likely” to develop into a tropical cyclone. 

“Itong LPA na ito ay nananatiling mababa ang tiyansa na maging bagyo at ayon sa ating latest analysis ay hindi rin natin nakikitang papasok ito sa ating PAR (The LPA remains less likely to develop into a tropical cyclone and based on our latest analysis, we are also not seeing the possibility that it would enter our PAR),” said Castañeda.

It, however, will continue to dump rains in Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. Residents of these areas were strongly told to be vigilant against possible flash floods or rain-induced landslides during moderate to at times heavy rains. 

For Batanes and Babuyan Islands, PAGASA said partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains may persist due to the effects of the northeast monsoon, locally called “amihan.”

“Bagamat pahina na [ang northeast monsoon] at papunta na tayo sa panahon ng tag-init ito ay nakakaapekto pa rin sa extreme Northern Luzon (Although it continues to weaken and besides the fact that the warm and dry season is near, the northeast monsoon is still affecting extreme Northern Luzon),” added Castañeda.

The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, may expect a generally fair weather condition in the next 24-hour period, but PAGASA stressed that isolated rain showers may still occur in the afternoon or evening due to localized thunderstorms.