Rain over Bicol, Vis-Min; potential cyclone may enter PAR this weekend

Moderate rain and thunderstorms may fall over Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao Thursday as a low-pressure area hovered near Catanduanes, state weather agency PAGASA said.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA also said the inter-tropical convergence zone is affecting Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao.

As of 4 a.m., it said the LPA was estimated at 480 km east of Virac, Catanduanes.

"Bicol Region, Visayas and Mindnao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms," it said.

It added Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Also, moderate to strong winds from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

Light to moderate winds blowing from the southwest to west will prevail over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas.

Two LPAs

In an interview on dzBB radio, PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said the LPA off Bicol has little chance of becoming a cyclone.

"Posibleng malusaw ito," he added.

But he said they are also monitoring another LPA outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, which he said may enter the PAR on Saturday.

He said their models indicate the LPA outside the PAR, which he said is some 1,700 km away from the PAR, may enter only after the LPA off Bicol dissipates.

But he said the second LPA has a good chance of becoming a cyclone once it enters the PAR.

However, he said it has little chance of making landfall as it will get near Northern Luzon then veer toward Japan.

"Lalapit sa Northern Luzon tapos kikilos pataas papunta Japan," he said. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News