Two rain-bearing weather systems will continue to bring cloudy and rainy conditions across most of the country until Saturday, July 20, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, July 19.
PAGASA Weather Specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the low pressure area (LPA) that caused heavy rains over some parts of the country was last spotted 135 kilometers (km) west-southwest of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on Friday morning.
It is expected to continue to bring scattered to widespread rains to northern Palawan and Occidental Mindoro in the next 24 hours.
Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms caused by the LPA’s trough or extension may persist in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, the rest of Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” may bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms to Mindanao and the rest of Visayas.
Under these conditions, Aurelio warned of potential flooding or landslides, especially in areas highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and areas experiencing significant antecedent rainfall.
The rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA also warned of severe thunderstorms that could trigger flash floods or landslides.
As the LPA is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Saturday, Aurelio said that “fair” weather conditions may prevail across the country by Sunday, July 21.
However, he said PAGASA is monitoring a new LPA inside the PAR, estimated 880 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas.
As of Friday, it has no direct effect on the country, but Aurelio said it may approach Northern Luzon in the coming days.