LPA continues to move toward Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - A low pressure area (LPA) that is poised to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility as early as Thursday will bring rains over Eastern Visayas and Mindanao on Friday and throughout the weekend, the weather bureau said on Wednesday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA over the Pacific Ocean continues to move toward the country but has a small chance of intensifying into a tropical cyclone.

PAGASA weather forecaster Gladys Saludes said the weather bureau still hasn't ruled out the possibility of the LPA turning into a tropical depression but it is expected to dissipate once it makes landfall.

In case it becomes a storm, it will be named 'Basyang,' the second for the year.

Saludes said Luzon and Visayas will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains due to the cold northeast monsoon. Mindanao, meanwhile, will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains and thunderstorms because of a wind convergence.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the northeast to north over Mindanao, the weather bureau said.

The coastal waters throughout the country will be moderate to rough and strong to gale-force winds associated with the northeast monsoon will affect the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," PAGASA said.