No tropical cyclone to hit country this week

MANILA, Philippines - No tropical cyclone is expected to affect the country this week although state weather forecasters are keeping tabs on a shallow low-pressure area (SLPA) off Northern Luzon that may trigger monsoon rains.

Prisco Nilo, administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said the SLPA, located some 520 kilometers east-northeast of northern Luzon as of 5 p.m. yesterday, is unlikely to intensify into a tropical cyclone.

“The SLPA is not expected to intensify, it will dissipate,” Nilo said.

Nilo said the SLPA would induce rains in southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao until Wednesday.

He said isolated rain showers would also prevail over the rest of the country this week.

Pagasa said moderate to occasionally strong winds blowing from the southwest would prevail over southeastern Mindanao with moderate to occasionally rough seas. - Helen Flores