The low-pressure area (LPA) east of Mindanao is expected to bring rain showers to most of the country and strengthen into a tropical depression in the coming days, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday, July 20.
PAGASA weather specialist Patrick Del Mundo said scattered light to occasional heavy rains may prevail over Visayas, Romblon, Sorsogon, Masbate, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands.
It warned of possible flash floods or landslides during moderate to heavy rainfall in these areas.
Meanwhile, the rest of the country may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the trough or extension of the LPA.
LPA likely to become tropical depression
According to Del Mundo, the LPA still has a “high” chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next 24 to 48 hours.
It was last seen 650 kilometers east-northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur at 3 a.m. on Thursday.
Once it becomes a tropical depression, it will be given a local name “Egay.”
Del Mundo said there is still a “high uncertainty” as regards the LPA’s track as of Thursday, urging the public to continue monitoring PAGASA’s updates on this weather disturbance.
However, citing historical tracks, he explained that tropical cyclones entering or forming in July typically make landfall in Northern or Central Luzon, while others “recurve” toward Japan, avoiding landfall in the Philippines.
The most recent cyclone to hit the country was tropical storm “Dodong,” which made landfall in Isabela on July 14.
