The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) has oscillated and is now affecting Southern Luzon and Visayas.
ITCZ is characterized as an area where winds coming from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet; this interaction results to rains in the affected areas.
As this weather system prevails, Metro Manila, Bicol Region, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Aurora and Visayas will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. Elsewhere, partly cloudy to cloudy skies prevail only with chances of localized thunderstorms.
Warm Weather on Rizal’s Birth Anniversary
The Ridge of a High Pressure Area (HPA) continues to bring generally fair weather in the country. This weather system suppresses cloud formation, causing lesser chance of rains. As it prevails today, partly cloudy to cloudy skies prevail in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao though isolated rain showers and thunderstorms are still possible.
In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran, he mentioned that no weather disturbance is expected to affect the country within the next two to three days.
Non-working Holiday
While it’s a back-to-work Monday in most areas of the country, some provinces are enjoying an extended vacation today. These include Ifugao, which celebrates its provincial foundation anniversary, and Laguna, the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal whose birth we commemorate today.
Here are expected weather conditions and temperatures in these areas:
Warm Wednesday and Monsoon Break
In the midst of the Rainy Season, generally fair and warm weather is expected with the presence of the Ridge of a High Pressure Area (HPA) today.
“Ridge” refers to the extended part of an HPA or an anticyclone. Unlike a Low Pressure Area, this indicates an area where the atmospheric pressure is higher than its surroundings. Formation of clouds is usually suppressed, thus, less chance of rains. As it extends across Luzon, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of the country only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
In an interview with PanahonTV, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Robert Badrina said that the country is on a monsoon break.
Badrina also said that the country will experience a storm-free week.
ITCZ soaks parts of Mindanao
The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) continues to affect Southern Mindanao.
ITCZ is characterized as an area where winds coming from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet; this interaction results to rains in the affected areas.
As this weather system prevails, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced in Mindanao today. Rains have been affecting the region since last week, prompting the cancellation of classes and declaration of State of Calamity in Kabuntalan and other areas in Maguindanao due to widespread flooding.
Light to moderate rains will also affect the regions of Central Visayas and Negros Island. In the rest of the country including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Light to moderate rains in Palawan
On the first Saturday of June, the Southwest Monsoon, which is warm and moist air locally known as Habagat is still affecting the western section of Luzon.
As this weather system prevails, cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms will be experienced in the province of Palawan. In Metro Manila and the rest of the country, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail.
While the Habagat dumps rains on some parts of Luzon, residents are alerted against heavy rains, which may trigger flash floods and landslides. It can be recalled that five persons perished in a landslide that occurred in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan last Monday night. According to reports, the victims were composed of a family of four and an infant.
Photos courtesy of Brigada News FM Palawan.
However, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza clarified that there is no weather disturbance affecting the country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIE_MuLGYuQ
The Low Pressure Area Inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility will continue to dump rains in some parts of Visayas and Mindanao.
At 4:00 am today, the LPA was spotted at 235 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza, it is not expected to develop into a tropical depression but may cross the Visayas area tomorrow.
Due to this weather disturbance, cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms are expected in Eastern Visayas and Caraga. Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced in the regions of Bicol, Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao. Residents of the said areas are advised to take precautions because these heavy rains may trigger flashfloods and landslides.
Due to the continuous surge of the Hanging Amihan in the Northern Luzon, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will prevail in Batanes, Cagayan and Ilocos Norte. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Regarding the official announcement of the onset of the Hot and Dry Season in our country, Mendoza says that this will only be done when the Amihan weakens and a continuous record of high temperatures in our country is established.
According to PAGASA, two weather systems still prevail in the Philippine Area of Responsibility today. As the Tail-End of a Cold Front affects the eastern section of Southern Luzon, the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan dominates Northern and Central Luzon.
The Cold Front is an area in the atmosphere where masses of warm and cold air converge, resulting in thunderstorms. Ordinarily, the axis of the Cold Front is in level with Taiwan or Japan. The only part that affects the Philippines is its tail end or extension. The Amihan, characterized by cold and dry air coming from Mainland China, is responsible for lower temperatures.
Ready your umbrellas because cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected in Metro Manila, Bicol, Davao, Aurora, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon and Samar.
In the Cagayan Valley Region, Cordillera and the rest of Central Luzon, cloudy skies with light rains will prevail, while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains are expected in the rest of Luzon.
For the remaining parts of Visayas and Mindanao, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will be experienced.
Here’s the weather forecast in the next three days:
Gale warning remains over Northern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and Visayas. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out in these areas while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.
Now that the rainy season has arrived, expect that #NoLigo, will start to flood the social media as well—whether in jest or in all seriousness.
#NoLigo:
When the rains come bringing with it the cold weather, one is tempted to just burrow into the bed covers, forgetting all responsibilities, even the ones involving personal hygiene.
But is it really okay to skip showers during this season, since we don’t perspire and it’s extremely cold?
According to Dr. Karen Elysse J. Beltran of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, even if we don’t perspire, bacteria thrive on our skin. If that isn’t enough reason to still take showers on rainy days, Beltran also reminds us that during the rainy season, we are prone to respiratory diseases such as cough and colds, as well as diarrhea. Mosquitoes are also rampant during this season, possibly carrying diseases. That’s why poor personal hygiene may cost you your health.
Aside from taking a bath everyday, here are more tips to help you stay healthy this rainy season:
Eat healthy.
It is not advisable to eat street foods. Water and air-borne diseases are usually caused by food prepared in open-air food carts. It’s better if you cook food, especially fruits and vegetables, at home with the right preparation.
Wash your hands.
Your hands are a hotspot for germs and bacteria. Washing your hands properly before handling food—whether cooking or eating—ensures that you don’t ingest the nasty stuff that can cause diseases.
Always have a handkerchief with you.
Cover your mouth and nose with a clean hanky to protect you from catching or spreading diseases in crowded places.
Avoid sharing personal things.
Sharing your personal things like towels, soap, hairbrushes and clothes with other people also means sharing bacteria and germs.
No matter the season, we should remain vigilant about personal hygiene. Health threats come indiscriminately, and it is our responsibility to make sure that we’re always equipped to fight them.
– By Camille O. Javines, PanahonTV intern
As Severe Tropical Storm Lando (international name: Koppu) slowly traversed the landmass over Central and Northern Luzon, it brought the water needed to fill our dams.
According to PAGASA Hydrologist Edgar Dela Cruz, the rains brought by Lando should also be considered a blessing. The storm’s almost stationary movement and the amount of rainfall it produced allowed our dams to recover their water supply—so much so that some areas in Luzon are expected to survive the effects of El Niño, including droughts and dry spells, which may be experienced next month.
Meanwhile, the rains have also caused flooding. Dela Cruz said that though PAGASA has yet to receive data in areas where dam gates were opened, he is confident that the residents near the dams were given sufficient warning against the floods. The good news is that there were no casualties reported in these areas.
PAGASA is still monitoring Lando’s movement, which was forecast to exit landmass tomorrow, October 20. Its speed is maintained at 5 kilometers per hour in a north- northwest direction, and has sustained maximum winds up to 105 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 135 kilometers per hour.