Weather Today – April 9, 2017

Fair Weather on Palm Sunday

For millions of Catholics across the world, today marks the beginning of the Holy Week. This day commemorates the bible story wherein Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem where He was welcomed by a crowd waving palm branches. As part of today’s tradition, devotees head to church bearing young coconut leaves woven as palms to be blessed by the priests.

PHOTO: Devotees attend the Palm Sunday mass in Nuestra Soñora de la Porteria Church in Daraga, Albay. (Courtesy of Gov. Joey Salceda)

Marking this tradition is generally fair weather, which prevails today. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will be experienced in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. This weather condition is caused by the Ridge of High Pressure Area (HPA) extending across Northern and Central Luzon, and the Easterlies affecting the eastern sections of Southern Luzon, of Visayas, and of Mindanao.

“Ridge” refers to the extended part of a High Pressure Area 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, producing a less chance of rains. Likewise, Easterlies are warm and humid winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, which usually affect the eastern section of the country. However, since warm air or heat is a major factor for cloud formation, Easterlies can also generate isolated thunderstorms, mostly in the afternoon or evening.

In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Rob Gile, no weather disturbance is expected to affect the Philippine within the Holy Week but the public is still advised to continue monitoring updates.