MikeLigalig.com

by PNA

A potential cyclone spotted near Guam and east Pacific Ocean may enter Philippine territory late Wednesday or early Thursday, the weather bureau said on Tuesday.

“What we monitored that would enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is tropical depression or a cyclone already. We expect it to enter the country within 24 hours or Wednesday or early Thursday,” said Connie Dadivas, weather forecaster.

Apart from the potential cyclone, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) spotted a shallow low pressure area (SLPA) in South Mindanao which is expected to bring rains to the Mindanao region.

Dadivas said the SLPA was seen 100 kilometers south of Mindanao (5.0°N, 124.4°E) at 2 a.m. Tuesday, and monitoring continues even as it has a small chance of becoming into a cyclone.

“If the SLPA becomes a cyclone while in Philippine territory, it will be named 'Butchoy' the second cyclone in the Philippines for 2012 after 'Ambo'," she said.

She said the isolated rain showers due to southwest monsoon is expected to continue affecting Luzon.

Meanwhile, in its advisory, PAGASA said the western section of Luzon and Visayas and the whole Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds from the southwest will prevail over Northern Luzon, making its coastal waters moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest with slight to moderate seas, it said.

PAGASA also warned of strong to gale-force winds associated with the southwest monsoon that may affect the northern seaboard of northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Luzon.