This MODIS true-color image of the northern Philippines shows the island of Luzon and the Cagayan River running in the plains between the Sierra Madre mountain range on the northeast Coast, and the Zambales Mountains to the west. The light-colored, three-pronged shape about 1/4 of the way up from the bottom center of the image is a lagoon to the east of Manila Bay, home of the capital city of the Philippines. Credit: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC. From Wikipedia.

Monday, November 07, 2011 00:00

Written by : FRANCIS EARL A. CUETO

STATE weather forecasters said that a potential cyclone—a shallow low-pressure area (SLPA)—was brewing near Nueva Ecija province and might trigger flash floods and landslides in some parts of Northern and Central Luzon.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the SLPA was estimated in the vicinity of Cabanatuan City as of 8 a.m., embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

“Widespread rains are still expected over the Northern and Central Luzon and Quezon Province which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” Pagasa said in its 10:30 a.m. advisory.

It added the SLPA and the ITCZ may also bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in other parts of the country.

Should the SLPA become a cyclone while inside Philippine territory, it will be codenamed “Sendong.” Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr., however, said that the SLPA would have exited Philippine territory before developing into a typhoon.