The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced Thursday that it is closely tracking cloud clusters over the Pacific Ocean that could develop into a low pressure area (LPA) later this month.
Weather Specialist Grace Castañeda confirmed that the state weather bureau is monitoring at least two distinct cloud formations expected to persist until the end of May. However, only one of the systems shows a higher potential for intensification.
“Pero yung ine-expect this week, unlikely siya maging bagyo. But yung other system na ineexpect natin next week na Low Pressure Area (LPA), yun yung nakikita natin na mas pwedeng maging bagyo,” Castañeda explained.
But the one expected this week is unlikely to become a tropical cyclone. But the other system we are expecting next week, which is a Low Pressure Area, that is the one we see that has a higher chance of becoming a tropical cyclone.
Current forecast models suggest the potential LPA could form between May 24 and May 25, with a trajectory that may bring it into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Despite this, Castañeda clarified that the overall probability of these weather systems developing into full-blown tropical cyclones currently remains low.
In the meantime, the easterlies—warm winds blowing from the Pacific Ocean—will continue to dictate the country’s weather patterns.
PAGASA warned the public to prepare for ongoing hot and humid conditions across most of the archipelago, interspersed with occasional isolated rain showers.