A low-pressure area (LPA) may form within the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) either Tuesday or Wednesday next week, increasing the possibility of landslide- and flood-driving rain and thunderstorms in northern Luzon.

“Latest available data indicate a high chance for the LPA’s formation east of Luzon,” said weather forecaster Nikos Peñaranda of the state weather bureau, PAGASA.

Peñaranda said occasional to frequent light to moderate rain and thunderstorms are thus possible in northern Luzon’s Batanes and Cagayan provinces, as well as the Ilocos region due to the LPA and expected enhanced southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’.

“Communities concerned must prepare. If rain there occurs frequently, this may eventually trigger landslides and flash floods,” he said.

In its 24-hour forecast released Thursday morning, PAGASA said the inter-tropical convergence zone is affecting Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

It is still unclear if the LPA would intensify into a tropical cyclone (TC).

“There is a possibility for that LPA’s intensification,” Peñaranda said, noting that if the LPA intensifies into a TC, it will assume the local name, ‘Isang’, which would be just the ninth TC in the country this year.

“2017 is atypical since there should have been 10 to 11 TCs already in the country between January and August,” he said, adding that PAGASA is studying the matter. (PNA)