ILOILO City – The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is monitoring a possible weather disturbance that could develop near the Visayas next week, even as rains from the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) continue to affect Eastern Visayas and parts of Mindanao.
In its latest bulletin, the state weather bureau said the ITCZ is causing scattered rain and thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas, with potential flash floods and landslides due to moderate to heavy rains.
Meanwhile, Tropical Depression “Koto” — formerly “Verbena” — remains outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
As of Monday afternoon, it was located 505 kilometers northwest of Pag-asa Island in Palawan, nearly stationary with winds of 55 kph and gustiness reaching 70 kph.
While Koto is not expected to impact the country directly, it influences weather patterns in the western sector.
PAGASA’s two-week threat outlook shows a low chance of cyclone formation over the Visayas this week. However, from December 8 to 14, a Tropical Cyclone-like Vortex (TCLV) may form across the central Philippines, potentially including some Visayas provinces, before moving westward toward the Mindoro–Palawan area.
In Western Visayas, residents can expect generally fair weather with occasional isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized convection. PAGASA cautioned that severe thunderstorms may still cause localized flooding or landslides.
Seas remain slight to moderate across the region, though sudden thunderstorms may bring brief periods of rougher conditions.
Communities in the Visayas are urged to keep monitoring weather updates as the potential disturbance develops./PN
