No storm this Christmas; LPA outside PAR dissipates

By Joshua Solano

THERE will be no storm this Christmas weekend.

THE state weather bureau on Thursday, December 23, 2021, said the low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has dissipated.

In its 4 p.m. weather forecast, Ana Clauren, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather specialist, said the LPA they monitored outside PAR has weakened and has become a cloud cluster.

Clauren said the cloud cluster is likely to bring rains in any areas of the country, as it is outside PAR.

“Malayo po ito sa ating Philippine land mass, kaya hindi natin inaasahan na magdudulot po ito ng anumang mga pag-ulan saan mang bahagi ng ating bansa,” Clauren said.

(It is far from the Philippine land mass, which is why we are not expecting it to bring rains in any part of the country.)

She said Pagasa has not monitored any weather disturbances that could affect the next two to three days.

Pagasa, however, earlier said that the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) will bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in parts of Mindanao.

The ITCZ will affect Caraga, Davao Region, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Pagasa said flash floods and landslides are possible during moderate to heavy rains.

Isolated rain showers caused by localized thunderstorms will continue to be experienced by the rest of the country, the weather bureau said.

Last week, parts of Visayas and Mindanao were greatly affected by Typhoon Odette, which caused billions in damages.