PAGASA monitoring new LPA over Bicol

State weather forecasters are keeping watch over a low-pressure area spotted early Tuesday over the Bicol area, but would not say if it will intensify into a cyclone.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was 570 km east northeast of Catanduanes as of 2 a.m.

"Parang 50-50 na ang kalagayan. Pero ganoon ang panahong ito ng July, August at September, bigla ito lalakas, biglang mabubuo ang tunay na bagyo. Atin itong sinusubaybayan (As of early morning, it is weakening. But between July and September, these weather systems suddenly strengthen and become cyclones. So we still have to keep an eye on it)," Pagasa forecaster Manny Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Should the LPA intensify into a cyclone, it will be codenamed "Domeng."

In a separate interview on dzBB, Pagasa forecaster Bernie de Leon said the LPA may affect northern Luzon.

"Developing pa lang ang LPA (The LPA is still developing)," De Leon said when asked about the path of the possible cyclone.

Earlier, Pagasa had indicated at least three to four cyclones are expected to enter Philippine territory this August.

Meanwhile, Pagasa's 5 a.m. bulletin said the LPA was embedded along the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Source: GmaNews