MANILA – Just days after Tropical Depression Wilma’s landfall and dissipation, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is monitoring a fresh low-pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), assessing it a medium chance of intensifying into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours. As of the 3 a.m. advisory on December 9, 2025, the system poses no immediate threat to land areas but could usher in scattered rains across scattered regions, with no gale warnings raised.
The LPA, embedded in the tail-end of the northeast monsoon (amihan), is currently located approximately 390 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. It is drifting slowly westward, with potential to develop outside the PAR if it strengthens – far from Philippine shores. “The LPA has a medium potential to develop into a tropical depression in the next 24 hours,” PAGASA forecaster Obet Badrina noted, emphasizing that the system remains weak with no significant winds or heavy rainfall expected at this stage. Tropical Depression Wilma, which made landfall in Eastern Samar on December 6, has fully dissipated over the West Philippine Sea, leaving behind scattered rains but no lasting structural damage.
Weather Forecast Across Regions
The new LPA’s influence, combined with the amihan and localized thunderstorms, will bring varied conditions nationwide. Expect mostly cloudy skies with intermittent showers, particularly in the north and east, though intensities remain light to moderate. Temperatures will hover between 24°C and 32°C, with no heat index alerts.
- Luzon:
- Batanes and Ilocos Norte: Cloudy skies with light rains due to the tail-end of a frontal system.
- Metro Manila, rest of Ilocos Region, and Central Luzon: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated light rains.
- Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, and Quezon: Overcast skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms.
- Bicol Region: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers or thunderstorms.
- Visayas:
- Eastern Visayas: Partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers or thunderstorms.
- Mindanao:
- Localized thunderstorms expected, with partly cloudy to cloudy skies and isolated showers.
Risks and Advisories
While the LPA poses no direct cyclone threat, PAGASA urges caution against bursts of the northeast monsoon, especially in Northern Luzon, where strong winds could gust up to 40-60 kph over the next 24 hours. “Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas should monitor for possible flash floods or landslides during heavy downpours,” Badrina advised. No gale warnings are in effect, but small vessels in the northern and western seaboards are warned of moderate to rough seas (2-4 meters). Fisherfolk and mariners are urged to stay grounded until conditions improve.
The DOH and DSWD are on standby for any localized impacts, with preemptive alerts in flood-prone Quezon and Aurora. As the holiday season ramps up with Simbang Gabi preparations, Badrina’s message is clear: “Keep umbrellas handy and stay updated – even a weak system can surprise with showers.”
For real-time updates, check PAGASA’s website or app. In a nation where December drifters are as common as carols, this LPA’s whisper serves as a gentle nudge: Safety first, so the festivities flow freely.