Weather Today – May 29, 2015 | Weather disturbances outside the PAR

As of now, no tropical cyclone exists within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). However, the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) will dump moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Mindanao. Visayas will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms, while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

The ITCZ is an area where winds coming from the northern and southern hemispheres meet. When winds converge, clouds are formed, bringing rains and thunderstorms over the affected areas. Dubbed as the breeding ground of low pressure areas (LPA), weather disturbances usually develop within the ITCZ.

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Manny Mendoza says the axis of the ITCZ oscillates from time to time, thus, it can move from north to south or vice versa. It is also expected to reach Luzon in the coming weeks and might prevail until the month of August.

As the ITCZ continues to be the dominant weather system, a cloud cluster is being monitored within the PAR, located east of Mindanao. Mendoza said it may dissipate in the next few days.

Meanwhile, two new low pressure areas are closely monitored outside the PAR. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gladys Saludes said the 1st LPA was spotted at approximately 500 kilometers east of PAR while the other LPA was located at around 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers east of the boundary. These weather disturbances have the chance of developing into tropical cyclones and are expected to enter the PAR by next week. All are advised to monitor updates and further development.