The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday, Sept. 25 that a Low Pressure Area (LPA) may develop within the country’s area of responsibility between Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26 and 27.
During a climate forum, PAGASA Weather Specialist Veronica Torres said the potential LPA, located east of extreme northern Luzon, could bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms to Batanes and Babuyan Islands.
The rest of the country is expected to experience isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Torres warned that the LPA could develop into a tropical depression from Saturday to Sunday, Sept. 28 to 29, and move northwestward towards southern Japan.
If it becomes a tropical depression within the Philippine Area of Responsibility, it will be named “Julian,” making it the 10th tropical cyclone for 2024 and the sixth in September.
Torres said scattered rains and gusty conditions due to the tropical depression may affect the extreme northern part of Luzon, while the rest of the country will continue to experience isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
This potential cyclone follows Severe Tropical Storm Enteng (Yagi), Tropical Storm Ferdie (Bebinca), Tropical Depression Gener, Tropical Storm Helen (Pulasan), and Tropical Depression Igme.
According to PAGASA Senior Weather Specialist Remedios Ciervo, only Enteng and Gener made landfall in Luzon.
However, the five tropical cyclones enhanced the southwest monsoon (habagat), which resulted in near to above-normal rainfall across large parts of the country, particularly in Luzon and Western Visayas.
Ciervo said 61 provinces received above-normal rainfall, 10 received near-normal, and 13 received below-normal, while no provinces experienced way below-normal rainfall in September.