A low pressure area over the Pacific Ocean was moving towards Mindanao this Christmas weekend, PAGASA said Tuesday, with a 30-40% chance of becoming a tropical depression.
The weather system was spotted as the Visayas Islands and Mindanao's northeastern tip reeled from Typhoon Odette (Rai), which left 375 people killed and flattened entire communities one week before the holidays.
Citing wind forecasts, PAGASA forecaster Cris Perez said the low pressure system could enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this weekend. "Hindi ito inaasahan na maging bagyo," he said.
Perez urged people in Mindanao to prepare and keep track of the weather system.
In the three days before Christmas, which falls on a Saturday this year, Perez said the country will experience fair weather with scattered rains due to the Amihan or seasonal cold winds from the northeast.
On Tuesday evening, Perez said rains that could bring flashfloods and landslides could hit Cagayan province in the northeast. Central Luzon in Metro Manila might experience cloudy skies and scattered rains while the rest of the country will be generally warm.
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