Weather Today – November 4, 2015 | Amihan, trough of LPA affecting PH

Light rains will prevail in Batanes, Calayan and the Babuyan Group of Islands due to the Northeast Monsoon or hanging amihan affecting the extreme Northern Luzon. Meanwhile, the trough or extended part of a Low Pressure Area (LPA) continues to affect the province of Palawan, where cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms.

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong says the LPA in the West Philippine Sea has a slim chance of intensifying into a tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours. The LPA is also expected to head towards Southern Vietnam, moving farther away from our country. Aside from this LPA, no other weather disturbance is being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Due to the presence of amihan, gale warning remains in the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon, where wave height ranging from 3.4 to 4.5 meters and wind force of 52 to 63 kilometers per hour may occur. Sea travel is still risky for fishing boats while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.

Amihan vs. Habagat

During the past few months, the Southwest Monsoon or habagat affected the country, dumping rains mostly in the western section of the Luzon. Many areas suffered from flooding due to the heavy and occasionally intense rainfall especially during the passage of a tropical cyclone.

Early this October, PAGASA has observed the weakening of the said wind system. Along with this, the high pressure system over the Asian continent was also observed, leading to the entrance of another wind system – the amihan.

Amihan is characterized by cold and dry air coming from Mainland China and Siberia. It usually brings lower temperatures and slightly cold weather to the country. However, its peak normally occurs during January or February.