Rains in Soccsksargen areas
The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) continues to bring rains to some areas in Southern Mindanao.
This Saturday, portions of the Soccsksargen Region, including Sarangani and South Cotabato should still brace for light to moderate rains. Meanwhile, in the rest of Mindanao, a generally fair weather will be experienced. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail in Luzon and Visayas.
In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Obet Badrina, he mentioned that no tropical cyclone is expected to affect the country this weekend.
Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week 2017
Meanwhile, to further strengthen the nation’s readiness for tropical cyclones and their possible effects, the Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week 2017 was officially launched.
In a press conference held in Quezon City yesterday, Dr. Esperanza O. Cayanan, the chief of PAGASA Weather Division, highlighted that the bureau will now use “impact-based” information dissemination instead of focusing on the figures and data.
Nine to 14 tropical cyclones are expected to enter or develop within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) until November this year.
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.
Rainy first day of school in parts of Luzon and Mindanao
According to the Department of Education, an estimated 28 million students officially opens the school year 2017-2018 today. As students and teachers head back to school, rains will prevail in some parts of Luzon and Mindanao.
According to PAGASA, the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat is still affecting the western section of Northern and Central Luzon, while the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is affecting Southern Mindanao. Due to these weather systems, cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms will be experienced in the Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Maguindanao, Soccsksargen and Davao Del Sur including Davao City. In the rest of the country including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail except for isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran, he mentioned that morning rains will be more frequent as Habagat prevails.
However, Duran clarified that there is no weather disturbance in the county within the next three days.
Frontal system and Habagat bring rains to Luzon
Rains will prevail in most parts of Luzon on the last Sunday of May 2017.
According to PAGASA, the Frontal System is affecting the extreme Northern Luzon, while the Southwest Monsoon dominates the western section of Northern and Central Luzon. Frontal System refers to the boundary of two different air masses. Once this weather system becomes dominant in an area, it will generate convective clouds which will bring thunderstorms. Southwest Monsoon is defined as warm and moist winds moving in a southwest direction. Due to these characteristics, Habagat can cause monsoon rains that can last for a couple of days or even a week
As these weather systems prevail today, Ilocos Region, Cordillera and Batanes will experience moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms. Residents of these areas are alerted against flash floods and landslides. In Central Luzon and the rest of Cagayan Valley, light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced. For the rest of Luzon, down to Visayas and Mindanao, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail, only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
While the present Habagat is categorized as weak, this, along with the Frontal System, has brought significant rainfall to some areas in Luzon. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong, last week’s top three highest rainfall were recorded in these areas;
Batanes – 232 millimeters (mm) of rain in 24 hours – May 26, 2017
Calapan – 75.2 mm of rain in 24 hours – May 25, 2017
Casiguran – 76.2 mm of rain in 24 hours – May 24, 2017
This weekend, remember to bring your umbrellas as you make your “huling hirit sa tag-init,” because the prevailing Southwest Monsoon or Habagat brings possibilities of rains. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Loriedin dela Cruz, the habagat is in effect in the western section of Luzon and Visayas.
With its warm and moist characteristics, the habagat will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms to the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, MIMAROPA, CALABARZON, Bicol, Western Visayas and the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Zambales and Bataan. In the remaining parts of the country including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies prevails only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Photo courtesy of Nelson M. Velasco, Daraga, Albay
Dela Cruz adds that no weather disturbance is expected to affect the country in the next two days.
A new weather disturbance was spotted outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
At 4:00 AM today, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) was located at 525 kilometers southeast of General Santos City. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Benison Estareja said that this weather disturbance is not expected to enter PAR. However, its advancing clouds are bringing rains in some parts of Mindanao.
Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected in the regions of Davao, Soccsksargen, ARMM and the Zamboanga peninsula.
Meanwhile, the extended part of High Pressure Area is bringing generally fair weather in Luzon, Visayas and the rest of Mindanao. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.
Generally fair weather prevails today. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will affect the archipelago only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening as Easterlies, or warm and humid air from the Pacific Ocean, dominates.
Perez said, warm and humid weather is still expected today and heat index can soar up to 39.6 degrees Celsius.
If this good weather continues, we can enjoy various festivals this month.
In the Philippines, each city or municipality has a local festival of its own. The celebration includes the feast of the town’s patron saint, as well as an abundance of local products. Some of the festivals celebrated in May are the Bawang Festival of Ilocos province, the Hundred Islands Festival in Pangasinan, the Pahiyas Festival in Quezon, and the Flores de Mayo in almost every town.
Photo from PanahonTV Live Producer Paul Michael Caisip
A new weather disturbance is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this week.
According to PAGASA, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) previously spotted outside PAR has developed into a tropical depression. As of 10 AM, it was located 1,540 kilometers east of Mindanao. It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gustiness of 60 kph, slowly moving at a west-northwest direction.
According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Loriedin dela Cruz, the LPA can possibly enter PAR within 24 hours. If this happens, the tropical depression will be given the local name “Dante,” this month’s second tropical cyclone.
Today, Easterlies or warm and humid air from the Pacific Ocean prevail in the eastern sections of the country. This weather system will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies or generally fair weather in the entire archipelago except for isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. Humid weather is still expected to prevail.
Have you been complaining about the humid weather these past days? Well, the surge of the Northeast Monsoon may give you a break.
Yesterday, PAGASA recorded an air temperature of 36.5°C in Sinait, Ilocos Sur. With the humid weather, heat indices also continue to increase. Heat index refers to temperature obtained from the high air temperature and relative humidity. It also describes how the human body perceives the heat or the warm weather.
PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez reminded the public through an interview with Panahon TV that when the computed heat index value is between 30-40°Celsius, a person may experience exhaustion and stroke.
However, Amihan has slightly intensified today and is now affecting Northern and Central Luzon. This Tuesday, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will prevail in the regions of Caraga and Davao. Cloudy skies with isolated light rains are also expected in the regions of Cagayan Valley and Cordillera, and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will be experienced in the Ilocos Region and the rest of Central Luzon. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of the country.
Strong to gale force winds associated with the surge of the Amihan are causing rough to very rough seas in the seaboards below. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.
