LPA to dissipate after crossing Bicol, Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - A low-pressure area east of the country is expected to dissipate in the next 24 hours, but rains would prevail over the eastern section of Luzon until the end of the week, weather forecasters reported yesterday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the low-pressure area would dissolve after crossing Eastern Visayas and Bicol region today.

As of 4 p.m., the weather disturbance was spotted at 160 kilometers east of Catarman in Northern Samar.

“The eastern section of Luzon will be cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to the easterlies,” an advisory from PAGASA said.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

On Friday, the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

The Bicol region and Eastern Visayas will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday, due to the expected development of a low-pressure area east of Mindanao.

The weather bureau said the new low-pressure area was not expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this weekend.

PAGASA senior weather forecaster Jun Galang earlier said low-pressure areas developing during the summer or dry season are not unusual.

A tropical cyclone had entered the country this month, bringing rains over parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.