By Arabella Balderama

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Monday, July 17, 2023, that a new low-pressure area (LPA) was monitored east of northeast Mindanao and was forecast to develop into a tropical cyclone within 24 to 48 hours.

According to PAGASA’s weather bulletin, the LPA outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) was last located 810 kilometers (km) east of northeast Mindanao at 3:00 A.M. on July 18.

“Itong LPA nating ito base sa ating huling datos ay posibleng maging bagyo sa isa hanggang dalawang araw at posibleng ngayong Lunes ay pumasok na ito ng PAR,” weather forecaster Obet Badrina stated in a morning forecast.

Badrina added that the LPA currently does not directly impact any part of the Philippines. However, if it develops into a tropical cyclone, the LPA would either move closer to the country or recurve to Japan.

Once it enters the PAR, the LPA would be locally named “Egay”, and is expected to make landfall in Luzon.

PAGASA earlier warned that at least three tropical cyclones were expected to enter the country’s weather monitoring area in July.

Meanwhile, tropical storm Dodong was last spotted 825 km west of extreme Northern Luzon—on its way to Hainan Island or Southern China.

Habagat to bring more rain showers

Weather specialist James Villamil remarked that the southwest monsoon, also known as “habagat”, would continue to bring rainfall to several places in Luzon in the coming days, including Metro Manila and Western Visayas.

He mentioned that monsoon rains are forecast in Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and northern Palawan; along with occasional rains in Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga, Benguet, the rest of MIMAROPA, Cavite, and Batangas.

“Monsoon rains are normally experienced in the afternoon until evening and early morning. There may be a break of rain in the morning and until noon,” Villamil explained.

Thumbnail from CNN Philippines