Low pressure area to bring rains over Visayas, Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - No tropical cyclone is likely to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this week but a low pressure area is expected to bring scattered to widespread rains over the Visayas and Mindanao until tomorrow, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

Robert Sawi, chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s weather branch, said the low pressure area was expected to pass through Mindanao yesterday and bring scattered to widespread rains particularly over the eastern section of the island.

He said southern Luzon will also experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

The rest of Luzon, on the other hand, will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms.

However, Sawi said the low pressure area, estimated at 440 kilometers east of Mindanao yesterday afternoon, will unlikely intensify into a tropical cyclone.

Sawi warned residents living in low-lying areas, along riverbanks and near mountain slopes against possible flash floods and landslides.

Fishermen in southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, meanwhile, are advised not to venture out into the sea due to big waves generated by strong to gale force northeasterly winds.