MANILA – The low pressure area (LPA) last spotted 985 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon is likely to develop into a weak tropical cyclone, the weather bureau said Friday.
"This LPA has a high chance to develop into a weak tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours. This will be named 'Ester', or the fifth tropical cyclone in the country," Benison Estareja, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.
He added that this LPA, and the tropical storm outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, are enhancing the southwest monsoon.
"As such, these weather disturbances will continue to cause rains in the next few days since they enhance the southwest monsoon," Estareja said.
Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are forecast to prevail over Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Zambales, Bataan, Antique, and Aklan on Friday.
Flash floods or landslides are possible during moderate to at times heavy rains.
The rest of the country will experience isolated rain showers caused by localized thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas still prevail across the archipelago, PAGASA said. (PNA)
