Potential tropical cyclone spotted off Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) located a low pressure area hovering west of Mindanao on Friday morning.

The state weather bureau said the potential tropical cyclone was last observed at 240 kilometers west of Zamboanga City at 4 a.m. today.

PAGASA issued a heavy rainfall warning at 7 a.m. for the Zamboanga Peninsula, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Compostella Valley, Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte.

The agency said flooding is possible in low-lying areas while landslides threaten mountainous areas.

In its 24-hour weather forecast, PAGASA said the tail-end of a cold front is affecting Northern Luzon.

Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera Administrative Region, the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will be cloudy with rains while Metro Manila, Ilocos Region and the rest of Central Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains.

The rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rains or thunderstorms while Bicol Region, Southern Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough, according to PAGASA.

In other parts of the country, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast with slight to moderate seas.