PAGASA: LPA to move toward West Philippine Sea on Oct. 28; rains to ease over most of VisMin
PAGASA
The low-pressure area (LPA) west of Mindanao is expected to move over the West Philippine Sea by Tuesday, Oct. 28, resulting in improving weather conditions across most parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Monday. Oct. 27.
As of 8 a.m., the LPA was spotted 260 kilometers north-northwest of Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur.
PAGASA weather specialist Daniel James Villamil said the weather disturbance, which is embedded within the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), has a low chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 hours.
The ITCZ is a weather system formed by the convergence of winds from the northern and southern hemispheres, producing thunderstorms and prolonged rainfall.
On Monday, the combined effects of the LPA and the ITCZ may continue to bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms are also expected over Batanes and the Babuyan Islands due to the shear line, or the collision of cold and warm air masses, which often results in rain showers.
Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Aurora, and Quezon will experience similar conditions caused by easterlies, or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean.
The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms due to the ITCZ or easterlies.
Villamil said the LPA is expected to move over the West Philippine Sea by Tuesday, which will lead to reduced rainfall and gradually improving weather conditions over most parts of Visayas and Mindanao, although cloudy skies may still persist in some areas.
Cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms will continue over Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
From Wednesday to Friday, Oct. 29 to 31, the shear line may bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms over Batanes and Cagayan, while the rest of the country will experience generally fair weather except for isolated afternoon or evening thunderstorms.