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Because the Amihan is still the country’s dominant weather system, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will be experienced in Batanes, Calayan and the Babuyan Group of Islands. Meanwhile, clear skies with a chance of isolated light rains are expected in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon. In Visayas and Minadao, generally fair weather is expected, but best to bring umbrellas for there is still a chance of isolated thunderstorms, usually during the afternoon or evening.

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According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio, even though the Amihan has been weak the previous days, it might intensify by Thursday. This is because January until February is the peak of the Amihan season, where frost is usually experienced in Benguet. So, better get your jackets and sweaters ready; brace for cold mornings ahead!

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The tail-end of a cold front now affects Mindanao, bringing cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers, particularly over the regions of Northern Mindanao, CARAGA and Central Visayas, as well in the provinces of Leyte and Negros Occidental.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be experiencing fair weather conditions, apart from isolated light rains due to the prevailing northeast monsoon.

The remaining parts of Visayas and Mindanao can expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the following hours.

Meanwhile, State Meteorologist Buddy Javier says that although the satellite shows a cluster of clouds outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, it has a low chance of developing into a low pressure area.

THE JANUARY NIGHT SKY

On this first week of 2015, the northern hemisphere night sky is favored by the first meteor shower of the year.

The annual Quadrantid meteor shower has been active since January 1 and will last until January 7. Peaking on the first weekend of the year, between midnight and dawn of January 3 and 4, a rate of at least 40 meteors per hour can be seen, says Engr. Dario Dela Cruz, PAGASA Space Sciences and Astronomy Section Chief.

However, the almost fully illuminated moon hinders the display this year, making visibility a challenge to avid skywatchers, except for a very short window of peak activity.

The said meteor shower was named after the extinct 17th century constellation Quadrans Muralis or the Wall Quadrant.

2015 is here! Another year, another set of goals. But before we outline our plans for the new year, let us first familiarize ourselves with this month’s weather.

1) Rains won’t go away yet.

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This month marks the start of another year but rainy days won’t end yet for some areas of the country. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier said the northeast monsoon or amihan and the tail end of a cold front will be dominant. Amihan is cold and dry air coming from Mainland China or Siberia, bringing light rains mostly over Northern and Central Luzon.

Meanwhile, the tail end of a cold front refers to the extended part of a cold front which is formed when the cold air mass dominates the warm air mass during a convergence. Javier added that at this time, Southern Luzon usually experiences cloudy skies, as well as light and moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms. However, the tail end of a cold front can recede or move, depending on the strength of amihan.

2) January’s not totally “bagyo-free”.

According to PAGASA, the average number of tropical cyclones that usually enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this month is 0 to 1. This means that there is still a chance for us to experience stormy weather even in the first month of the year.

Climatologically speaking, a cyclone that may enter the PAR could cross the archipelago or make landfall, particularly over the Visayas area. It is also possible for it to re-curve, moving away from the landmass. The surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan influences its movement.

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3) The much awaited sweater-weather is here.

Amihan peaks this month, bringing colder weather mostly over Luzon. Minimum temperatures are usually recorded during this chilly part of the year. One of the significant amihan-related events happened on January 18, 1961 when Baguio City’s temperature dropped to 6.3 degrees Celsius.

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