ASEAN WEATHER: Jan. 01 – 07, 2018 Expect Rainy Days Ahead: MANILA – Stormy New Year: Landslide, flood warnings up in south

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MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Eastern Visayas and Mindanao are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides due to a brewing tropical cyclone, which may hit southern Philippines today or tomorrow.

The low-pressure area, which entered the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday, is expected to develop into a tropical depression within the next 48 hours and will be locally named Agaton.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, the weather system was spotted at 910 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The state weather bureau said authorities may cancel sea travel in the eastern seaboard of Mindanao, including Surigao, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands and Siargao, and the eastern seaboard of Leyte provinces once the low-pressure area develops into a tropical cyclone.

Mindanao is still reeling from Tropical Storm Vinta (international name Tembin) that hit just a few days before Christmas and killed more than 200 people.

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Vinta came on the heels of Tropical Storm Urduja (Kai-tak), which battered Eastern Visayas, leaving 47 persons dead.

The two cyclones also left damage to agriculture and infrastructure amounting to P2.172 billion.

Meanwhile, cloudy skies with occasional to frequent rains will also prevail over the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas due to the tailend of a cold front today, according to PAGASA.

The northeast monsoon, on the other hand, will bring scattered rains over Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Aurora and Quezon.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will also experience isolated rains due to the northeast monsoon.