Brace for LPA, ‘Pablo’ areas told

MANILA, Philippines - A low-pressure area (LPA) threatens to evolve into a tropical depression and bring more rains to areas in the Visayas and Mindanao devastated by typhoon “Pablo.”

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said the LPA was expected to enter the country before midnight last night.

It advised those involved in search and retrieval operations in Pablo-devastated areas to be on alert today as rains could trigger flooding and landslides.

“So far it is still an LPA and we expect that it would remain an LPA as it crosses the East Philippine Sea. But we are not discounting the possibility that it could become a tropical depression because it is still in the water and could gain strength,” said weather forecaster Bernie de Leon.

He said that even an LPA could unleash rains in areas worst hit by Pablo, particularly Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

If the weather disturbance becomes a tropical depression, it would be called “Bising.” It stands to become the second cyclone to hit the country this year, after “Auring.”

Based on data culled at 2 p.m. and released at 5 p.m. yesterday, PAGASA said the LPA was estimated to be at 1,000 kilometers east of Mindanao.

In its forecast, the state weather bureau said Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Cagayan Valley will experience cloudy skies with light rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with brief rain showers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail throughout the archipelago and the coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

Weather forecaster Jori Loiz said that upon the request of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, PAGASA issued a special weather update for disaster personnel in areas ravaged by Pablo. The special forecast takes effect until 11 a.m. today. – With Jaime Laude