Satellite imagery of the two weather disturbances (courtesy of PAGASA)
A low pressure area (LPA) could intensify into a storm and hit the areas devastated by the 6.9 magnitude quake this Christmas, state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
PAGASA weather forecaster Raymond Ordinario said the LPA was located about 2,500 km east of Mindanao at 3 a.m. Friday. It will enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) at the earliest on Sunday, 2 days before Christmas Eve.
The storms potential track is Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao and could possibly Davao del Sur which is still reeling from a powerful 6.9 magnitude quake that struck it on the afternoon of December 15. About 960 aftershocks had been recorded so far, according to the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The rains the storm would bring could make life harder for evacuees who are still sheltered under tents since the quake struck.
This will be the country’s 21st storm this year and will be named Ursula.
Ordinario said another LPA was spotted about 795 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur at 3 a.m. Friday. This will bring cloudy skies and isolated thunderstorms over Eastern and Central Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region and Northern Mindanao. PAGASA said this weather disturbance is unlikely to strengthen into a storm.
Ordinario said Western Luzon and Metro Manila will experience generally fair weather with isolated rains for up to 2 hours in the afternoon on Christmas day.
Last year, tropical storm Usman, one of the deadliest tropical cyclones of last year, formed in the Philippine Sea on Christmas day. It made its landfall in Samar on December 28. It passed over Palawan and other areas bringing heavy rains that caused several landslides.which killed 156 people,
The NDRRMMC reported 156 dead and some 32,000 houses with damages amounting to Php5.41 billion (US$103 million). (Rommel F. Lopez)