Weather Today – March 6, 2017 | LPA to dump heavy rains

The Low Pressure Area (LPA), which currently prevails within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), was last spotted at 270 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza, the LPA has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone, but will definitely bring rains in Mindanao.

Monday comes with rainy weather in some parts of the country. Cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms may be experienced in the regions of Caraga, Davao, Northern Mindanao and SOCCSKSARGEN. Same weather condition is expected in the provinces of Southern Leyte, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. Residents of these areas are advised to prepare for possible flash floods and landslides. Light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms may affect the rest of Mindanao.

Meanwhile, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will prevail n the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos. Metro Manila and the rest of the archipelago can enjoy generally fair weather aside from solated rain showers or thunderstorms.

As the Northeast Monsoon or Hanging Amihan remains dominant in Northern Luzon, fisherfolk in Luzon are still advised to take extra caution in venturing out into the sea as coastal waters will be moderate to rough. The remaining seaboards will be slight to moderate.

Mendoza also mentioned the factors that should be observed before terminating the Amihan. “Bago ma-terminate ang Amihan, kailangan makita na natin ‘yung prevailing wind natin ay Easterlies o nagmumula sa Dagat Pasipiko…at ‘yung pagtaas pa rin ng temperature lalo na sa Luzon.” (Before we terminate Amihan, the prevailing wind should be the Easterlies. Another factor is the rising temperatures in Luzon.)

Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/tjW5wCA4lsM

PAGASA terminates La Niña Watch

The weather bureau has announced the termination of its La Niña Watch after analyses showed that La Niña conditions are no longer present in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific (CEEP). In a press statement, PAGASA said the sea surface temperatures continue to return to neutral values.

The ENSO Alert System Status of PAGASA is now inactive. Thus, La Niña nor El Niño is not expected to develop in the equatorial Pacific within the next three months. The neutral conditions are likely to last from March to May 2017. However, all are still advised to monitor updates and further development.