Weather Today – January 22, 2016| From “Nona” to “#NIMFAPH”

The last tropical cyclone for 2015 was “Nona,” which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) last December 12, 2015 as a Tropical Storm with the international name “Melor,” and dissipated as a Low Pressure Area (LPA) on December 17.

As it existed within the PAR, it brought rains and winds over several areas in the country, with damages amounting to more than 6 billion pesos, and causing more than 40 casualties.

According to PAGASA, names of tropical cyclones that caused enormous damage with more than 300 casualties and at least P1 billion pesos worth of destroyed properties should be decommissioned so they may take their place in history.

Effective January 17 this year, PAGASA finally replaced “Nona” in the tropical cyclone list to “Nimfa.” Since the names of tropical cyclones are repeated every four years, it will be used again in 2019.

Amihan, Easterlies to affect PH

The Northeast Monsoon, locally known as “Hanging Amihan”, continues to blow over the extreme Northern Luzon. Light rains may prevail in the islands of Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, mostly in Eastern Visayas and CARAGA.

No gale warning was raised but small seacraft are advised to take extra caution in venturing into the eastern section of Northern Luzon, where moderate to rough sea conditions are expected.

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jori Loiz says there is a possibility for an early termination of the Northeast Monsoon. However, some factors need to be satisfied or observed first. These include rising temperatures, a weak Siberian High and the intensification of the Easterlies.