The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is currently monitoring a newly formed low pressure area (LPA), increasing the total number of active systems under observation to three.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday morning, PAGASA said that the third low pressure area (LPA 07i) was spotted outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), located around 2,850 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas.
PAGASA senior weather specialist Rosalie C. Pagulayan said in a phone interview that the agency is still monitoring whether the newly spotted LPA will develop into a tropical cyclone or bring direct impacts to the country.
For the two earlier LPAs inside the PAR, Ms. Pagulayan said that PAGASA is closely monitoring both systems, as they have the potential to develop into tropical depressions within the next 24 hours.
In its latest satellite report, PAGASA said the nearer low pressure area (LPA 7h) was located about 225 kilometers east-southeast of Basco, Batanes, with a ‘medium’ chance of development.
Ms. Pagulayan said this LPA will not make direct landfall, but it is enhancing the prevailing Southwest Monsoon, which has been bringing heavy rains over the past few days.
“Kasi pag meron tayong bagyo (LPA) sa medyo taas ng bansa, nahahatak ang Southwest Monsoon [When there is an LPA in the upper part of the country, it pulls in the Southwest Monsoon],” Ms. Pagulayan said.
“Ito po yung nagbigay sa atin ng paulan dito sa western section [This is what brought us rain in the western section], which also includes Metro Manila,” she added.
Meanwhile, the second and farther low pressure area (LPA 07g) was located around 1,140 kilometers east of Central Luzon, with a ‘high’ chance of developing into a tropical depression.
Ms. Pagulayan said that PAGASA will issue an updated bulletin within the day detailing the expected movement of the LPAs. She added that the agency will issue rainfall advisories from time to time to keep the public informed about the expected rainfall in their areas
“Manatiling nakaantabay sa mga warnings at sa mga impormasyon na ibinibigay ng PAGASA [Stay alert for warnings and information from PAGASA],” Ms. Pagulayan said. – Edg Adrian A. Eva
