Weather Today – January 19, 2015 | #AMANGPH to dissipate today

Bagyong Amang came when the Pope arrived in the Philippines. Now it’s dissipating on the same day Pope Francis is leaving the country.

Amang, known as Mekkhala internationally, has weakened into a low pressure area this morning. Public Storm Warning Signals have been lifted.

Estimated at 85 km Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora at 10 am today, it is still expected to bring light to moderate rains over the regions Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos.

State Meteorologist Glaiza Escullar says that the said weather disturbance has weakened due to the following factors:

1) Vertical wind shear. With a stronger wind shear, the heat is dispersed over a large area, weakening the tropical cyclone.

2) Friction effect.

3) Sea condition. As it moves relatively northward, the sea surface temperature gets lower, unable to sustain the strength of the bagyo.

4) Northeast monsoon. Cold and dry air intrusion is not conducive for any weather disturbance as this needs warm temperature to develop.

Expected to dissipate within 24 hours, Amang has made landfall thrice as a tropical cyclone and has crossed another as a low pressure area. Here’s its latest landfall track:

Today, the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos will continue to experience light to moderate rains due to the existing weather disturbance. The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will have cloudy skies with light rains caused by the prevailing northeast monsoon.

Visayas and Mindanao, on the other hand, can expect improved weather conditions apart from isolated thunderstorms.

In other related news, gale warning has been issued over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon. Wave height may reach up to 4.5 meters, making sea travel risky
in the following hours.

LAST DAY OF THE PAPAL VISIT

After a 5-day visit, the Pope will be leaving for Rome at 10 AM today. A departure ceremony will be held at the Presidential Pavilion of the Villamor Airbase.