MANILA – Flooding and landslides are possible this weekend in eastern sections of both Luzon and the Visayas from rains spawned by an anticipated low-pressure area (LPA).
The LPA may develop around Saturday (July 8) over waters east of the Luzon-Visayas area, and bring there light to moderate rains which can trigger such flooding and landslides, according to weather forecaster Obet Badrina from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
“Communities concerned must prepare for those possible occurrences and thunderstorms as well,” he said Tuesday at the sidelines of a forum in Metro Manila.
Aside from rain, experts said hazards associated with thunderstorms are lightning, tornadoes and hailstorms.
Badrina said other parts of the country may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rain showers and thunderstorms possible from Wednesday (July 5) to Sunday (July 9).
Those thunderstorms may occur mostly during either afternoons or evenings, he noted.
PAGASA, however, isn’t expecting the anticipated LPA to intensify into a tropical cyclone (TC).
Badrina noted such LPA may develop near landmass already so there’s lesser chance for this weather system’s intensification.
He expects the LPA to dissipate between Sunday (July 9) and Monday (July 10).
Last week, an LPA also formed east of the country but over waters far from landmass. That LPA was able to draw from water energy enough to help this weather system intensify into the TC with local name “Emong”.
“Emong” was the fifth TC in the country this year.
TCs, LPAs, thunderstorms, southwest monsoon, inter-tropical convergence zone, ridge of high-pressure area and northeast monsoon are weather systems that may affect the Philippines from July to December this year, PAGASA said.
PAGASA expects nine to 14 TCs in the country during such six-month period. Two to three TCs are possible in the Philippines this July, it added.