The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) storm/low pressure bulletin said that a new low pressure area is expected to form in the PAGASA forecast area (PMD), in the southern South China Sea. This low pressure area has the potential to strengthen into a storm.
Next, during the week of December 9-15, 2024, a second low pressure system is expected to form in the Philippines, entering the PAR forecast area from the Visayas and Southern Luzon, also likely heading south towards the South China Sea. The probability of this low pressure system strengthening into a typhoon is low to moderate.
Meanwhile, according to the Pacific Typhoon Season page, a low pressure area is forecast to form southeast of Chuuk state in the Federated States of Micronesia this weekend.
While upper-level winds are only marginally favorable for development, the low could gradually strengthen as it moves west-northwestward over the weekend, with a tropical depression forming on December 8 or 9 as the system approaches Palau. The 7-day chance of formation is moderate at 40%.
According to the weather forecast bulletin of PAGASA on December 3, although there is currently no low pressure, due to the influence of the fault line - where cold air from the northeast monsoon converges with easterly winds or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean - many provinces in the Philippines will have heavy to very heavy rain.
On December 3, 100-200 mm of rain is forecast in Cagayan; 50-100 mm in Quezon, Aurora, Isabela.
On December 4, 50-100 mm of rain is forecast in Cagayan.
Rains began to ease in Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas on December 2, but these three regions, as well as Metro Manila, the rest of Calabarzon, the rest of Mimaropa, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, are expected to experience scattered rains and localized thunderstorms in the following days.
The northeast monsoon is also affecting the Ilocos region and the rest of Central Luzon.
At least three people died in drowning incidents in Camarines Sur over the weekend due to heavy rains.
In Ragay town, a 39-year-old man drowned on the afternoon of November 30 while crossing the PNR Binahan Bridge. His body was found on the morning of December 2.
In another incident, two elderly people were swept away by strong currents on the morning of December 1 while crossing an overflowing drain in Cabusao town.
The bodies were found four hours apart on the morning of December 2 and at least 50 meters away from the Biong overflow drain, said Jose Reyes, Cabusao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer.
A woman died after being trapped in a collapsed wall in Cebu City following heavy rains on the night of December 1.
The 47-year-old victim was with her husband, 50, when a nearby stone wall collapsed onto their house made of light materials in Sitio Calma, Barangay Tisa.
It took about five hours for rescuers to free the husband who survived the incident.
It took the rescue team another two hours to rescue the wife at around 3am on December 2. The wife was taken to the hospital but died.
As of 06:00 on December 3, there are no potential tropical cyclones or low pressure areas being tracked within or outside the PAR.
PAGASA expects 1 or 2 tropical storms to enter or form in PAR in December.
The most recent storm to hit the Philippines was Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi) in mid-November.
