By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said they are monitoring a new low pressure area (LPA) that has formed near Mindanao.

Based on PAGASA’s social media livestream, Weather Specialist Ariel Pojas said the LPA will bring heavy rains across various parts of the country in the coming days.

They also said the weather disturbance has the possibility of forming into a tropical storm once it crosses the Sulu Sea.

If formally transitioned into a storm, the weather system will likely be named “Samuel.”

The LPA was last spotted at 405 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur and will bring rains to some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao./DGB, WDJ