Courtesy: DOST Pagasa
A low pressure area inside the Philippine area of responsibility could develop into a tropical depression within 48 hours while also strengthening the southwest monsoon, according to DOST-PAGASA.
The weather bureau said the disturbance may enhance the habagat beginning Friday, increasing the likelihood of rain over Luzon and the western section of the Visayas in the next four to five days.
Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers were expected over Batanes, the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas and Mindoro on Thursday.
Western Visayas was also expected to experience cloudy and rainy conditions, while generally hot and humid weather with possible afternoon or evening thunderstorms was forecast over eastern Luzon and the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao.
DOST-PAGASA weather specialist Leanne Loreto said the LPA entered PAR at around 2 a.m. Thursday and was last located about 1,030 kilometers east of Northern Luzon as of 3 a.m.
The disturbance was moving generally west-northwestward and was considered unlikely to make landfall even if it developed into a tropical depression.
If it becomes a tropical depression while inside PAR, the weather disturbance will be given the local name “Pilandok.”
The habagat remained the dominant weather system affecting Luzon and western Visayas, with former tropical cyclone Obet also continuing to enhance the monsoon as it moved toward mainland China.