The country remains storms-free as the new week sets in.

According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran, no weather disturbance is expected in the next three days.

Today, Ridge of a High Pressure Area extends over Northern Luzon, while Easterlies affect the rest of the country. These will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies or a generally fair weather will prevail in the entire country only with chances of isolated rain showers or localized thunderstorms in the latter part of the day.

The shortest month of the year is about to end. But before we bid goodbye to the Love Month, let’s take a look at February’s weather highlights.

Five different weather systems prevailed in the country this February. These include the Trough of a Low Pressure Area (LPA), Tropical Depression Bising that recurved without hitting the landmass, the Tail-end of a Cold Front that brought moderate rains in portions of Visayas and Mindanao, the Northeast Monsoon that caused cold days, and the Easterlies which now signals the transition to the Hot and Dry season.

As Amihan peaked this month, temperatures also dropped most especially in the Northern Luzon.

According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez, the Northeast Monsoon is now gradually weakening, signaling the arrival of the Hot and Dry Season.

“Overall, nakikita nating patuloy na umiinit ang antas ng temperatura sa nakararaming bahagi ng ating bansa maging dito sa Metro Manila. Pumapasok na tayo na rin ang hangin mula sa silangan o Easterlies na naghuhudyat na posibleng magtapos na ang Amihan ngayong unang linggo ng Marso at posibleng mapunta na tayo sa tinatawag nating transition towards the warm months.” (Overall, we are observing higher temperatures in most parts of the country including Metro Manila. Easterlies have also set in, marking the possible termination of the Northeast Monsoon by the first week of March and the transition to the warm months.)

WEATHER TODAY
Today, the Northeast Monsoon has slightly weakened and is now dominant in Northern Luzon. Meanwhile, the eastern sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are being affected by Easterlies.

Cloudy skies with light rains will be experienced in Cagayan Valley. In Metro Manila and the rest of the country, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Did you feel the chill these past few days? It’s all because of the Northeast Monsoon, locally known as Amihan, which continues to affect several parts of the country. Amihan is characterized by cold and dry air mass coming from Mainland China or Siberia.

For some, it may be a little confusing why we’re feeling the cold weather only after the Holiday Season. Amihan usually affects the country during the “ber” months, but it reaches its peak in January or February, wherein temperatures usually drop.

Based on history, Baguio City has always experienced most of the coldest days. The temperature even dropped to 6.3 degrees Celsius

This year, PAGASA recorded 10.8 degrees Celsius in Baguio City last January 26. The state weather bureau says so far, this has been the lowest temperature for this year.

Philippine Weather Forecast: Slightly Cold and rainy

Due to the surge of the Amihan, rains will be more concentrated in Visayas and CARAGA, where cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains will be experienced. Residents of the said areas must prepare against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Meanwhile, light rains will prevail over the regions of Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, provinces of Aurora, Rizal and Quezon. Isolated light rains may also occur in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon. The rest of Mindanao can still enjoy generally fair weather, aside from possible isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, gale warning is up over the eastern seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, the eastern and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon, and the eastern and western seaboards of Visayas. With these rough to very rough conditions with wave height rising to 4.5 meters, fishing boats are not allowed to venture into the seas.

In line with this, the Philippine Coast Guard stated in its update that as of 8 AM today, a total of 297 passengers, 6 vessels and 22 motorized bancas were stranded in different ports in the country because of the gale warning.

As the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) strengthens, it brings cold weather to most part of the archipelago, particularly Luzon and Visayas. For those who are residing in the Bicol region, Visayas and the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon, you will be experiencing cloudy skies with light to moderate rains. Meanwhile, light rains prevail in the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and the provinces of Aurora, Rizal and Quezon. If you are in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, isolated light rainsares expected. Favorable weather will prevail over Mindanao, but always bring your umbrella for the possibility of localized thunderstorms.

Gale warning was raised in the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas. Fisherfolk with small seacraft are not allowed to venture into the said seaboards due to the rough to very rough sea conditions. This is due to the strong to gale force winds associated with the Amihan.

As temperature continuously drops, here are the lowest temperature recorded yesterday in Baguio City:

Affecting the whole Luzon, the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan)has strengthened, bringing cold weather and cloudy skies with light rains over the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and the province of Aurora. It will also be bringing isolated light rains in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon. Meanwhile, light to moderate rains will prevail in the Bicol region, CALABARZON and the provinces Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Samar. For the rest of our country, good weather condition will prevail.

And because the Amihan has intensifed, PAGASA raised gale warning in the seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Visayas. With rough to very rough sea conditions, fisherfolk with small seacraft are prohibited from venturing into the said seaboards.
As temperature drops, here are the lowest temperatures recorded yesterday:

The northeast monsoon or hanging amihan continues to prevail in Luzon. This weather system is cold and dry air coming from Mainland China or Siberia. It usually peaks in January, bringing light rains and colder weather.

Today’s forecast shows that cloudy skies with light rains will be experienced in Eastern Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Bicol Region, Aurora and Quezon. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains. Meanwhile, the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will enjoy generally fair weather with possible isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

As amihan slightly weakens, sea conditions become favorable for sea travel. Gale warning was terminated today which means fishing boats and other small seacraft can venture out into the seaboards of the country.

On the other hand, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza said the amihan can also reach Visayas and Mindanao. However, its effect will be mainly felt over Luzon. Here are the lowest temperatures recorded yesterday:

Mendoza added that no weather disturbance is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) within the next two days or until the end of January. The public is still advised to monitor updates as changes may still occur.

Warm ocean triggers glacier melt

The waters around the Totten Glacier is observed to be melting due to the global sea level rise, according to scientists. This glacier is the largest glacier in East Antartica measuring 120 kilometers long and more than 30 kilometers wide.

A voyage to the cold region showed that the waters were approximately 1.5 degrees Celcius warmer than the other areas in the southern hemisphere. In an article published in Agence France-Presse, Chief Scientist Steve Rintoul said the warm waters can be a sign that East Antartica is also vulnerable to the effects of Climate Change. He added that this study will be very useful in the improvement of predicting future sea level rise.

As of 2 AM today, temperatures in some areas of Luzon has slightly increased compared to yesterday’s record.

Northeast monsoon affecting Luzon will bring cloudy skies with light rains over Cagayan Valley, Bicol, CALABARZON and even provinces of Aurora, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Quezon.

The rest of Luzon including Metro Manila will most likely to have sunny weather but expect partly cloudy skies with isolated light rains due to northeast monsoon.

Visayas and Mindanao may continue to enjoy the good weather condition.

PAGASA weather forecaster Jun Galang said we might look forward to fair weather condition until January ends. The state weather bureau is not expecting any weather disturbances till the last day of the month.

February Is Panagbenga

Galang confirmed of good weather condition for the month of February at Baguio City.

The city of Pines has small chances of experiencing rains, according to climatological data of PAGASA, rain days for Baguio City only accounts to three.

Temperature will make Panagbenga Festival more enjoyable. Based on the forecast temperature, Baguio City will still have cold weather and lower temperature.

No weather disturbance or tropical cyclone is existing within the Philippine Area of Responsibility. However, due to the prevailing weather systems, some areas will still experience rains today. The tail end of a cold front will affect the eastern section of Central and Southern Luzon while the northeast monsoon or amihan continues to affect Northern Luzon.

The tail end of a cold front is the extended part of a cold front. The cold front, on the other hand, is formed when the cold air mass dominates the warm air mass during convergence. Meanwhile, amihan is cold and dry air coming from Mainland China or Siberia.

Bicol Region, Aurora, Quezon and Samar will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms. Cordillera, Ilocos and Cagayan Valley will experience cloudy skies with light rains. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains while the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will have a generally fair weather aside from the possible isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Amihan continues to bring colder mornings, mostly in Northern Luzon. This morning, PAGASA recorded the lowest temperature in Baguio City at 11.2°C.

Gale warning is still up over the eastern seaboard of Luzon and Visayas, as well as the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon. Expect wind force of 52 to 63 kilometers per hour with wave height of 3.4 to 4.5 meters. With rough to very rough sea conditions, fishing boats and other small sea craft are not advised to venture out into the sea.

Only one weather system is affecting the country–the northeast monsoon extending over the Luzon area. This will bring isolated lights rains in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

Meanwhile, the CARAGA and Davao regions will experiecne light to moderate rain showers brought by wind convergence. The meeting of the northeast monsoon and easterlies creates thunderstorm clouds.

The rest of the country will continue to have fair weather aside from isolated rains in the afternoon or evening.

Lowest tenperature today

As of 2 AM, below is the list of PAGASA’s recorded minimum tenperatures in the Luzon area.