The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is closely monitoring a potential Low Pressure Area (LPA) that may develop into a tropical cyclone in the coming days.
PAGASA Weather Specialist Benison Estareja on Thursday, Oct. 17 said the potential weather disturbance may form in the Pacific, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
He said it is expected to form as an LPA initially and could enter the PAR early next week.
PAGASA is not ruling out the possibility of the LPA developing into a tropical cyclone. However, it is not expected to directly affect the country over the next two to three days, he added.
From Friday to Sunday, Oct. 18 to 20, Estareja said cloudy skies with scattered light to occasional heavy rains and thunderstorms may persist in Palawan, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and portions of Davao Region due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)—an area where winds from the northern and southern hemispheres converge.
By Sunday, the northern and eastern parts of Luzon, particularly Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quezon, Aurora, and Bicol Region, may experience rains and thunderstorms due to the northeasterly wind flow.
Meanwhile, Estareja said the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.