Low-pressure area off Surigao monitored

MANILA, Philippines - A low-pressure area (LPA) off Surigao del Sur in Mindanao is being monitored by state weather forecasters on the possibility that it may develop into a tropical depression.

Weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said they are monitoring the LPA that developed off Surigao del Sur since Wednesday.

“Until yesterday afternoon it remains as an LPA and it is moving close to shore, in a western direction,” Aurelio said.

,but clarified there is little chance that the LPA would develop into a tropical depression since it is situated too close to the shore.

“However, we should still remain on our guard even if there is a small possibility that it would become a tropical depression,” he said.

In its 5 p.m. public weather forecast, Pagasa said the LPA was estimated to be 220 kilometers east of Mindanao.

Pagasa also pointed to the presence of the northeast monsoon bringing rain showers in Northern Luzon.

Pagasa said the LPA would not have any effect on Metro Manila, but the province of Palawan, the Visayas region and Mindanao would experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming widespread and could trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Extreme Northern Luzon would have mostly cloudy skies with scattered light rains. The rest of Luzon would experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast would prevail over Luzon, Visayas and Eastern Mindanao.

The coastal waters along these areas would be moderate to rough, Pagasa said.

Elsewhere, winds would be light to moderate coming from the Northeast to North with slight to moderate seas except during thunderstorms.

Pagasa also warned of adverse sea conditions in Central and Southern Luzon as well as the Visayas region that would be rough to very rough.

The prevailing monsoon would also affect the eastern seaboard in Northern Luzon.