Weather Today – November 18, 2014 | Amihan, easterlies to prevail over PH

Partly cloudy skies with isolated light rains will be experienced over Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos Region as the northeast monsoon continues to prevail over the extreme Northern Luzon. Meanwhile, the easterlies will still affect the eastern section of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Metro Manila and the rest of the country can look forward to a generally fair weather with possible isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

The northeast monsoon, locally known as amihan, is characterized by cold and dry air coming from Mainland China. The gradual intensification of this wind system results to colder early mornings. On the other hand, the easterlies, coming from the Pacific Ocean, brings warm and humid weather, mostly over the eastern side of the country.

PAGASA issued a gale warning, which covers the seaboards of Northern Luzon. Due to the rough to very rough sea conditions, fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan.

Forecasting temperatures

To guide us on our daily activities, the weather bureau provides the range of temperatures expected in key cities in the Philippines.

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jun Galang explained that they forecast these temperatures by using the CLIPER (Climatology and Persistence) method and actual data. Based on the observed high and low temperatures of a certain city, CLIPER allows forecasters to chart its expected highest and lowest temperatures the next day.

For today’s temperature, Metro Manila will have 23-32°C. A temperature range of 25-32°C will be experienced in Metro Cebu while Metro Davao can expect a slightly warmer day with 25-34°C.