Brewing storm threatens Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - A low-pressure area developed off Surigao del Sur yesterday and is likely to turn into a tropical cyclone this weekend, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned the public, particularly in Mindanao, against possible flashfloods and landslides.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the low-pressure area was spotted at 440 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. It will be given the local name “Dante” once it intensifies into a tropical cyclone.

PAGASA said Mindanao, particularly Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, which were hard hit by Typhoon Pablo last year, and Eastern Visayas will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms.

Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley will be mostly cloudy with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms until Sunday.

“Residents in these areas are advised to take all the necessary precautionary measures,” the weather bureau said.

The weather disturbance is also expected to dump rains over some parts of the Visayas and the Bicol region, PAGASA said.

Metro Manila and Northern Luzon will experience partly cloudy skies with isolated rains and thunderstorms.

PAGASA weather forecaster Alvin Pura said the weather system could enhance the southwest monsoon and trigger the onset of the rainy season in the country.

Pura, however, said the weather disturbance was not expected to directly hit any part of the country. It was forecast to move northeast.

PAGASA said it is monitoring another low-pressure east over the Pacific Ocean but it is still too far to affect the country.