Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 31) — Filipinos might welcome the first day of 2018 with umbrellas open, as a new low pressure area (LPA) entered the country on Sunday morning, the state weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said as of 8 a.m., the LPA was at 945 kilometers east of Mindanao.
It is expected to develop into a tropical depression on January 1 or 2, and will be named “Agaton.”
PAGASA said it may make landfall in the eastern Visayas and eastern Mindanao tomorrow afternoon.
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Spokesperson Mina Marasigan said it may bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains in the same areas affected by the last two deadly weather disturbances: Tropical Depression Vinta and Typhoon Urduja.
“Muling pinaalalahanan natin ang ating mga kababayan, wag po nating ipagsawalang bahala ang pag ulan na dala ng LPA. Maaaring maging ganap na bagyo ito, maaaring magdala ng maraming tubig na maaaring maging peligroso sa inyong komunidad,” Marasigan said in a press briefing on Sunday.
[Translation: We remind everyone to stay vigilant as the LPA approaches. It can develop into a typhoon, and may bring rains that may endanger your communities.]
