LPA likely to intensify into tropical depression

(UPDATE) THE low-pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) will likely intensify into a tropical depression and will be named «Kabayan» once it enters the country, the state-run weather agency said Friday.

Weather specialist Robert Badrina of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the LPA was last spotted 1,595 kilometers east of Southeastern Mindanao (outside PAR).

He said it would likely enter PAR as a tropical depression on Saturday, although it has had no direct effect on the country yet.

«But once inside, this will be named Kabayan, the first [cyclone] in December,» according to the Pagasa forecaster.

Pagasa said the weather disturbance was expected to dump rains in large parts of the country, especially the Visayas and Mindanao.

In the meantime, the state weather bureau said the northeast monsoon (Amihan) was affecting Northern and Central Luzon while the easterlies were affecting the rest of the country, including Metro Manila.

Generally, there would be fair-weather conditions in most parts of the country over the next 24 hours except for isolated rain showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon or at night, it added.