LPA brews, brings rains to eastern seaboard

MANILA, Philippines – Rains are expected over the eastern section of the country today due to a brewing low-pressure area (LPA) off the Pacific Ocean, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

A cloud cluster, which may intensify into an LPA within the next 24 hours, will bring light to moderate rains over the regions of Caraga, Davao, Eastern Visayas and Bicol today.

Shelly Ignacio, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), however, said the LPA has a slim chance of intensifying into a tropical cyclone.

She said extreme Northern Luzon will still experience isolated light rains despite the weakening of the northeast monsoon or amihan.

The amihan is likely to regain strength by Thursday but the cold weather is expected to affect only the extreme Northern Luzon, Ignacio said.

The rest of the country, she said, will experience good but warm weather with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms due to the easterlies in the next three to five days.

PAGASA has forecast the early termination of the northeast monsoon season this year due to the prevailing El Niño phenomenon.

Earlier, PAGASA said the northeast monsoon might terminate in the second week of February, giving way to the easterlies, the prevailing wind system during the summer months.

PAGASA had also warned of warmer than normal temperatures in many parts of the country during the summer season due to El Niño.

About 85 percent or 68 provinces of the country, mostly agricultural areas, are likely to be hit by drought by the end of April, it said.