The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Saturday, May 23, said it is monitoring two low-pressure areas (LPAs), including one inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) that may bring moderate to heavy rains over large parts of Mindanao and portions of the Visayas.

PAGASA weather specialist Leanne Loreto said one of the LPAs was spotted east of General Santos City and is not expected to develop into a tropical cyclone.

“Ngayong araw, mayroon nga po tayong dalawang low-pressure area na mino-monitor (Today, we are monitoring two low-pressure areas),” she said.

“Isa po ay nasa loob ng ating area of responsibility, at mayroon ding isa na nasa labas ng ating area of responsibility (One is inside our area of responsibility, while another is outside our area of responsibility),” she added.

According to Loreto, the LPA inside PAR was last spotted 795 kilometers east of General Santos City.

“Unahin po muna natin itong nasa loob ng ating PAR, ito po ay namataan sa layong 795 kilometers sa silangan ng General Santos City. Hindi natin ito inaasahan maging bagyo. Sa halip, habang kumikilos po ito pa-kanluran at lalapit ito sa ating Mindanao landmass. Inaasahan po natin na malulusaw na lamang po ito (Let us first discuss the LPA inside PAR. It was spotted 795 kilometers east of General Santos City. We are not expecting it to develop into a tropical cyclone. Instead, as it moves westward and approaches the Mindanao landmass, we expect it to dissipate),” she said.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the second LPA outside PAR was estimated at 2,135 kilometers east of Northeastern Mindanao and currently has a low chance of intensifying into a storm within the next 24 hours.

“Samantala, ‘yung isang low-pressure area naman na nasa labas pa ng ating PAR ay nasa layong 2,135 kilometers silangan ng Northeastern Mindanao. Sa susunod na 24 oras ay may mababang tyansa po ito na maging bagyo (Meanwhile, the other low-pressure area outside PAR was located 2,135 kilometers east of Northeastern Mindanao. Within the next 24 hours, it has a low chance of developing into a tropical cyclone),” Loreto said.

Despite the low chance of cyclone development, the state weather bureau warned that the trough or extension of clouds from the LPA inside PAR may still trigger moderate to heavy rains in several areas.

“Ngunit ito nga pong LPA na nasa loob ng PAR, ‘yung trough nito or extension ng kanyang mga kaulapan ay makakaapekto at magdadala ng katamtaman hanggang sa malalakas na pag-ulan sa malaking bahagi ng Mindanao, maging dito rin po sa areas ng eastern Central Visayas and also sa may Negros Island Region (However, the trough or extension of clouds from the LPA inside PAR may affect and bring moderate to heavy rains over large parts of Mindanao, as well as areas in eastern Central Visayas and the Negros Island Region),” Loreto explained.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said easterlies will continue to affect Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and Visayas, bringing generally warm and humid weather conditions with possible isolated thunderstorms.

“Sa ibang bahagi naman po ng ating bansa, dito sa Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, and Visayas—Easterlies naman po ‘yung nakakaapekto sa atin kaya magiging mainit pa rin at maalinsangan buong araw. Hindi naman natin inaalis ang tiyansa ng panandaliang buhos ng ulan dulot naman ng thunderstorm activities (In other parts of the country, including Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, and Visayas, easterlies will continue to affect us, so the weather will remain hot and humid throughout the day. However, we are not ruling out the possibility of short rain showers caused by thunderstorms),” Loreto added.