Cloud cluster off Mindanao may turn into LPA

The state weather bureau said on Thursday it was monitoring a cloud cluster east of Mindanao that could develop into a low pressure area (LPA) in the next few days.

According to weather specialist Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the cloud clusters could enter the Philippine area of responsibility.

An LPA may cause rains but it does not always intensify into a tropical cyclone.

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Based on its 4 p.m. weather forecast on Thursday, Pagasa said the southwest monsoon (habagat) had weakened although it continued to bring occasional rains over Palawan province. The other day, the state weather bureau forecast that up to 10 tropical cyclones may hit the country from September to December, with two to three expected to develop in the next two months. —KATHLEEN DE VILLA