The northeast monsoon prevails over Luzon, bringing cloudy skies with light rains over Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan Groups of Islands.

Metro Manila and the remaining parts of the country can enjoy fair weather today.

In related news, the monsoon brings strong to gale force winds, prompting PAGASA to release a new gale warning over the northern seaboards of Northern Luzon. Rough to very rough sea conditions are expected in the coasts of Batanes, Calayan, Cagayan, and the northern coasts of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte.

The agency advises against sea travel along these coastal waters in the following hours as waves may reach up to 4.5 meters.

FIRE PREVENTION MONTH

Be safe from fire-related incidents. Here is how you can keep your home and family safe from fire breakouts.

In case of fire, here are some of the things you can do to lessen its harm.

The good weather continues in the Philippines this week.

Based on PAGASA’s latest weather forecast, the weakened northeast monsoon still only reaches the extreme Northern Luzon area.

Today, the whole archipelago will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, as we anticipate the coming of the Hot and Dry season in the country, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong shares the highest temperatures ever recorded in Philippine history.

1) On May 11, 1969, Tuguegarao City peaked at 42.2 degrees Celsius.

2) In Metro Manila, 38.5 degrees Celsius was recorded making May 14, 1987 the hottest day in the metro.

The closest the records got to being broken was when Cabanatuan City experienced 40.4 degrees Celsius in the year 2002.

Swimming, island hopping, surfing and trekking—these are only some of the activities we love to do every summer. But do you know that there is actually no summer here in the Philippines?

Season refers to the time of the year caused by the tilting of the Earth. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) further explains that it is the division of the year based on the recurring astronomical or climatic phenomenon.

However, the location of an area, whether it is in the northern or southern hemisphere, affects its seasons. Other regions have complete seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. The Philippines, being a tropical country, has only two official seasons – wet and dry.

Wet Season (Tag-Ulan) – This usually starts in the month of June, wherein the southwest monsoon or habagat becomes the dominant weather system affecting the western section of the country.

Habagat is warm and moist in nature. It can be enhanced by a weather disturbance or tropical cyclone that enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). A surge of habagat could dump moderate to heavy, or heavy to intense rainfall over the affected areas which may persist for hours. The highest rainfall and flooding incidents are usually experienced during this time of the year.

Dry Season (Tag-Init) – In Philippine context, the hot and dry season is the equivalent of summer. This marks the start of warm and humid days in the country. The warm weather is brought by the easterlies and the ridge of a high pressure area. Easterlies are winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, the largest of the oceanic divisions in the world. On the other hand, a ridge or the extended part of a high pressure area (HPA) is associated with good weather. Unlike a low pressure area (LPA), fewer clouds are formed with less chance of precipitation.

Tag-init na ba?

Since the latter part of February, we have been experiencing hotter days, mostly in the early afternoon. According to PAGASA, this is just normal as we approach a new season. The start of “tag-init” normally begins on the first or second week of March. Certain factors are being observed before declaring the official hot and dry season.
These include the consecutive rise of temperatures, termination of the northeast monsoon or amihan, presence of a high pressure area and the prevailing easterlies.

Last year, the official “tag-init” was declared on March 26, 2014. Based on records, the highest temperature recorded in March last year reached 37.9 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, PAGASA noted that record-breaking hottest temperatures in the Philippines were mostly felt during month of May.

Aside from the weak northeast monsoon or hanging amihan, the wind convergence also prevails, bringing light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms over Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostella Valley. Converging winds include the northeasterly winds and the easterlies. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Though clouds are forming outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza said no weather disturbance is expected to affect the country within the next 2 to 3 days. However, all are still advised to monitor updates from the weather bureau.

On the other hand, temperatures continue to rise as we head towards the official hot and dry season. Here are the highest temperatures recorded in specific areas in the Philippines:

According to Mendoza, temperatures as high as these are just normal during the first week of March. The chance of El Nino phenomenon is still being monitored, but studies show that the probability will decrease in the upcoming months.

For today, Metro Manila will have 20-33 degrees Celsius while Metro Cebu will experience 24-32 degrees Celsius. Metro Davao can expect a bit higher temperature range of 24-33 degrees Celsius.

Application for CLSU presidency closes today

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran said we can expect good weather conditions today. The weak northeast monsoon continues to affect the extreme Northern Luzon, making the whole country experience sunny and partly cloudy weather.

Duran said that upon monitoring weather conditions outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, no weather disturbance has been observed. The average number of tropical cyclone for March is 0 to 1 due to the presence of easterlies. However thunderstorm activity will be apparent mostly on the eastern section of the country.

March is Women’s Month

National Women’s Month is now being observed all over the country with the theme “Juana, Desisyon Mo ay Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawat Isa. Ikaw Na!”

In line with this, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), in partnership with Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), invited shutterbugs to join the nationwide photo contest showcasing the role of women in society.

The photo contest is open to all Filipino amateur photo enthusiasts. P10,000 cash prize awaits photographers of 12 selected photo entries.

See details below for more information.

The weak northeast monsoon affects eastern Visayas today.

Based on PAGASA’s latest weather forecast, Eastern Visayas, Davao region and CARAGA will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon can expect, at times, cloudy skies and isolated light rains.

On the other hand, the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will enjoy fair weather, apart from isolated cases of rains or thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza shares that the expected monthly rainfall and average temperature in the Philippines this month will be below normal to normal range, particularly in the eastern sections of the country.

Temperatures in the mountainous areas of Luzon will still be slightly cooler, while the lowland areas can expect near normal temperatures, he added.

Visayas will have slightly warmer weather as Mindanao can expect near normal temperatures this March.

No weather disturbance is expected to threaten the Philippines within the next three days.

Today, the weak northeast monsoon brings, at times cloudy skies and isolated light rains, over the islands of Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan.

The remaining parts of the country, including Metro Manila, will have a fair weather apart from localized thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, March 20 marks the beginning of Spring in the Northern hemisphere with the vernal equinox.

The word “equinox” translates to “equal night”, wherein the Sun crosses directly over the Earth’s equator making the day and night almost equal in length all over the globe.

As the people in the north welcomes Spring, those below the equator, will experience lowering of temperatures as the autumnal equinox sets in.

This astronomical phenomenon occurs in the northern hemisphere every year –the vernal equinox around March 20 or 21 and the autumnal equinox during September 22 or 23. People south of the equator also experience the same in opposite dates.