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12359553_1213809551969540_650625313_oThe cloud cluster has developed into a Low Pressure Area, spotted at 2,540 kilometers east of Southern Mindanao. According to PAGASA Meteorologist Jori Loiz, it brings no direct effect on any part of the country; however, the LPA has a chance of developing into a tropical cyclone.

This December, at least one cyclone is expected to enter the Philippine boundary with its forecast track moving mostly across Visayas areas.

Today, light to moderate rain showers will prevail in Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora and Quezon due to the Tail End of a Cold Front. Meanwhile, rain showers in the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas are brought by the easterlies. The Northeast Monsoon will bring light rains over the regions of Cagayan Valley, while isolated light rains are expected in Ilocos and the Cordillera.

In Metro Manila and the rest of the country, isolated rains are still possible within the day, but generally good weather will occur.

3 months to go before Christmas! But before you start decorating your home and playing Christmas carols, know what to expect this month, weather-wise.

PAGASA declared an El Niño event, likely to strengthen before the end of this year, and may last until April to June of 2016. The weather bureau added that this event could be potentially included in the four strongest El Nino events since 1950. Impacts may include below-normal rainfall, and warmer than normal air temperature.

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This month, here are the weather systems likely to prevail:
Tail End of a Cold Front
The Cold Front is an area in the atmosphere where masses of warm and cold air converge, resulting in thunderstorms. Ordinarily the Axis of the Cold Front is in the level of Taiwan or Japan. The only part that is affecting the Philippines is its tail end.

Easterly Wave
The Easterly Wave, also known as Easterlies, are winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, bringing warm and humid air. PAGASA said that the easterly wave could prevail during the month of October before the northeast monsoon (amihan) breaks in. The eastern parts of the country are most likely to experience its effect: thunderstorms and isolated rain showers.

2 Tropical Cyclones this month
Because of the El Niño phenomenon, the average tropical cyclones that are likely to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this month are between 1-2. Normally, October has an average of 2 to 3 tropical cyclones.

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
The ITCZ is an area in the atmosphere where winds from the Southern and Northern Hemispheres meet—a convergence that contributes to cloud formation. According to PAGASA, the axis of ITCZ is erratic, so it may affect any part of the country, usually bringing cloudy skies and light to moderate rain showers.

Low Pressure Area
The LPA is an area that has a lower atmospheric pressure than its surrounding locations. This is usually formed in the Pacific Ocean where most water vapor is available. LPA brings light to moderate and sometimes, heavy rain showers. This could also intensify into a tropical cyclone.

October’s Temperature
PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jun Galang explained that during October, temperatures start to deviate which result to colder days. The transition of winds from the Southwest to the Northeast Monsoon influences the average temperature.
Normally, the northeast monsoon (amihan) prevails in the 2nd week of November.
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Overall, most of the weather systems this month produce cloudy sky and rain showers. It is advisable to keep monitoring weather updates straight from Panahon TV and PAGASA.

FAST FACTS – October Rainfall Forecast

Below normal rainfall is among the adverse effect of El Niño. This could lead to dry spell and drought condition.

Based on the rainfall forecast from the weather bureau, most parts of the country including the western section of central Luzon and areas over and southern Luzon, western Visayas and some parts of eastern Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula will have way below normal rainfall.

The “ber” months are in! But before you start playing Christmas carols and putting together your holiday shopping list, know what to expect this month, weather-wise.

JESY

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

ITCZ

The ITCZ is an area in the atmosphere where winds from the Southern and Northern Hemispheres meet—a convergence that contributes to cloud formation. According to PAGASA, the axis of ITCZ is erratic so it may affect any part of the country, usually bringing cloudy skies and light to moderate rain showers.

Southwest monsoon

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Although PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez explains that September is usually the time of the year when the southwest monsoon is nearing its termination period, this weather system can still come to play this month. The southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat”, is composed of warm and moist air that comes from the southwest direction. It causes monsoon rains or moderate to heavy rain showers that could last for days or a week. Know more about habagat through this article.

Low Pressure Area (LPA)

LPA

The LPA is an area that has lower atmospheric pressure than its surrounding locations. This is usually formed in the Pacific Ocean where most water vapor is available. LPA brings light to moderate and sometimes heavy rain showers. This could also intensify into a tropical cyclone.

Tropical Cyclone

Tropical Cyclone Classification

Tropical cyclones are the general term for bagyo, and are classified into four: Tropical Depression, Tropical Storm, Typhoon and Super Typhoon.

In September, an average of 3 to 4 tropical cyclones are expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). Based on the forecast track, most of the cyclones will affect Central and Northern Luzon.

In September 2014, three cyclones entered the Philippine boundary:

Typhoon Luis
Typhoon Luis, with the international name Kalmaegi, made landfall in Northern Luzon. Almost 8,000 individuals were affected and displaced in Regions I, II, III, IV-A, as well as the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Tropical Storm Mario
Tropical storm Mario (internationally known as Fung-Wong) made landfall in the northern tip of Cagayan. The combined effect of Mario and the southwest monsoon caused heavy rains in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
More than 2 million individuals were affected in the 27 provinces of Regions I, II, III, IV-B, V, VII, CAR and NCR. 18 dead and 16 injured were reported as Mario left the Philippine Area of responsibility (PAR).

Tropical Depression Karding
Tropical depression Karding was first spotted as a low pressure area near Iba, Zambales. Karding did not make any landfall; however, it brought moderate to heavy rain showers in the western part of Luzon.

So don’t forget to arm yourselves with umbrellas and raincoats because according to PAGASA, there will be 22 days of rain this month. Minimum temperature is pegged at 24 degrees Celsius while the maximum is at 31.6 degrees Celsius.

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Tropical Storm Egay slightly intensified as it moved closer towards Northern Luzon. From a previous strength of 85 kph, it now packs 95 kph maximum sustained winds and gustiness of 120 kph. It slowed down to a speed of 9 kph in a northwest direction due to a high pressure area located southeast of Japan.

More areas are now placed under signal #2. These provinces will experience stormy weather with winds of 61 to 120kph within 24 hours. Meanwhile, expect rains with gusty winds over areas under signal #1:

PUBLIC STORM WARNING 2

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According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio, Egay is expected to make landfall tomorrow morning in the northern tip of Cagayan. Its second contact with land will be over the Batanes area by Sunday night or Monday morning. If it maintains its current speed and direction, Egay will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday afternoon.

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Egay still has the possibility of intensifying in the following hours but has a slim chance of reaching typhoon category, he added.

Tropical Storm Egay is the first cyclone in the Philippines this July and the fifth this year. It has an international name of Linfa which means a Lotus, the city flower of Macau.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Chan Hom is expected to enter PAR by Wednesday or Thursday next week. If it does, it will be named Falcon and will further enhance the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat.

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Despite the distance of Egay from the western side of the Philippines, moderate to heavy rains will still be experienced over Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Bicol Region due to the enhancement of the southwest monsoon. Light to moderate rains and thunderstorms can be expected over Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and the rest of Luzon. The rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms tonight.

In related news, gale warning has been issued over the seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Northern Mindanao. Fishing boats and small seacraft are advised against venturing out into the sea due to strong to gale force winds and rough to very rough sea conditions.

The Ridge of High Pressure Area continues to affect Luzon. This weather system is associated with fair weather conditions and high temperatures.

Today, the Philippines will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Temperatures may reach up to 35 degrees Celsius with the heat index forecast showing 40.2 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila.

To counter the heat while looking your best, wearing light-weight and light colored clothing is recommended. Sunglasses don’t only look trendy; they also protect your eyes from the glare. Umbrellas with bright colors help shade you from the sun’s rays while giving off happy summer vibes.

In other news, PAGASA releases the revised classification of tropical cyclones effective May 01, 2015.

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Accordingly, the public storm warning signal system of the agency was also modified.

More than five years in the making, the undefeated American boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. will finally exchange blows with eight-time, eight-division champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. As the entire nation eagerly anticipates the battle, here’s a quick guide to one of the biggest boxing fights in decades.

IN A NUTSHELL: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY

WHERE:
MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada

WHEN:
The two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world will face off in the Welterweight showdown on Saturday night (May 2) in Las Vegas. The fight will air in the Philippines on Sunday, May 3.

THE FIGHTERS:

INFO BOXING

THEIR BOXING STYLES:

MAYWEATHER: Orthodox.
One of the most common stances in boxing, the right-handed Floyd will be leading with the left side of his body. Michael Olajide Jr. of Vogue writes Floyd is a “consummate boxer. Abides by the rule, ‘Hit and don’t get hit.’ Defense before offense.”

Meanwhile, Sean Wagner-McGough of CBS Sports describes Mayweather as “the crafty, savvy boxer, a defensive wizard. But if anyone can break is going to break through the defense and land some meaningful blows on Mayweather, Pacquiao is the guy.”

PACQUIAO: Southpaw.
Manny is left-handed but he will be leading with the right side of his body. Olajide states “Pacman attacks suddenly with speed and power from awkward angles, which makes his punches hard to defend against. Offense is everything.”

Wagner-McGough adds that Pacquiao, being “one of the most aggressive, offensive forces of his generation, is the perfect contrast to Mayweather’s conservative style. It won’t be easy. You don’t connect often on Mayweather so he has to be even more active.”

THE VIEWING:
With ticket prices soaring and selling like hotcakes within a mere 60 seconds, the Mayweather – Pacquiao mega bout smashed all Pay-Per-View records. The fight will also be aired live in public on wide screen TVs. Fans can also watch and reserve tickets in participating bars, restaurants and hotels.

THE EARNINGS:
It is considered the biggest fight of this century and the biggest cash cow in boxing history. But Mayweather will earn a bit more than Pacquiao due to the 60/40 split they agreed on.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP BELT:
Costing a million dollars, the especially designed championship belt presents one-of-a-kind features.
Crafted in Mexico, the belt is made with green leather, the same material used in Ferraris, and studded with 3,017 Emeralds. It also contains 800 grams of Gold and some silver.

Representing the countries affiliated with the WBC, it showcases 165 national flags, and features the faces of former WBC president Jose Sulaiman, Mayweather, Pacquiao and the legendary Muhammad Ali.

THE ODDS:
Aggression, speed, angles and feints are the key points for Pacquiao to win this bout. Meanwhile, Mayweather will have to focus on countering, timing, and impeccable defense.
Mayweather remains to be the undefeated man, knowing for throwing harder punches as suggested by his KO ratio. However, Pacquiao’s offensive style is one that Floyd has never fought before.

MAY WEATHER

But whether or not the fight will result into win for our country, Panahon TV reminds us to gear up for our yearly bout with May weather.

This month is the peak of the Hot and Dry Season; so maximum temperatures are likely to be recorded at this time. In Metro Manila, the forecast temperature plays between 23 to 36 degrees Celsius.

The country will continue to experience warm and humid weather conditions due to the prevailing Easterlies. These are warm winds blowing from the east that pass through the Pacific Ocean, generating thunderstorms mostly over the eastern section of the Philippines.

The Ridge of High Pressure Area may also reach the northern regions. This weather system is characterized by very light winds and clear skies.

Meanwhile, the axis of the Intertropical Convergence Zone is also expected to affect the southern regions of the archipelago. ITCZ is the breeding ground of Low Pressure Areas (LPA) and tropical cyclones. This is brought about by the convergence of the winds coming from the northeast and southeast that causes thunderstorm formations.

LPAs may be expected to form and affect the country, with a chance of intensifying into a tropical cyclone or bagyo. During the month of May, the Philippines has an average of 1 to 2 tropical cyclones, with the forecast track record of hitting Southern Luzon and Central Visayas.

From the second week to the latter part of May, frequent thunderstorm formation occurs. Simply put, this month will have more rains experienced compared to April. Normal rainfall in Metro Manila is 174.98 millimeters but with the existence of the El Niño, forecast rainfall in the said area plays between 144.2 to 159.4 millimeters this month.

SOURCES:

Michael Olajide Jr. / April 29, 2015 / http://www.vogue.com/13257090/floyd-mayweather-manny-pacquiao-vegas-fight-2015/

Sean Wagner-McGough / April 30, 2015 / http://mweb.cbssports.com/general/eye-on-sports/25167909/mayweather-pacquiao-10-things-to-know-about-fight-of-the-century

Telegraph Sport / May 01, 2015 / http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/mayweather-vs-pacquiao/11573189/When-is-Floyd-Mayweather-vs-Pacquiao-what-channel.html

Payong PAGASA Climate Guide 2015

A tropical cyclone with international name “Maysak” is now being monitored by our state weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and other meteorological agencies like the Joint Typhoon Warning Coucil (JTWC) and Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Maysak is a cyclone name contributed by Cambodia, which is a kind of tree.

Maysak is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) but as it moves, it continues to intensify due to some factors that are favourable for its development – ample amount of water vapour and warmth of the ocean. From a low pressure area, it developed into a tropical depression and was upgraded into a tropical storm.

PAGASA MTSAT Image

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jori Loiz said Maysak was spotted at approximately 3, 100 kilometers east of Mindanao as of 2:00 PM today. Packing winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 100 kilometers per hour, it moves in a westward direction at 15 kilometers per hour. If it maintains velocity, it is expected to enter the PAR by Wednesday or Thursday. Once it enters the PAR, it will be given a local name “Chedeng.” Loiz added that there is a chance for Maysak to intensify further or might also weaken in the coming days as it moves closer to landmass.

Meanwhile, JMA regularly updates their website with the cyclone information and forecast. Based on the latest information, Maysak moves west southwest slowly. In the succeeding days, it is expected to continue moving westward and slightly accelerate to 25 kilometers per hour.

On the other hand, below is the update from the JTWC. The forecast track shows that there is a great possibility that Maysak will enter the PAR next week.

jtwc

Loiz clarified that as of now, Maysak is still too far to determine the areas that will be directly affected but rest assured that PAGASA will keep observing and will provide latest information especially once it moves closer to our boundary.

Climatologically speaking, an average number of 0 to 1 tropical cyclone could enter the PAR during the month of April. Thus, the “tag-init” season does not always equate to a “bagyo-free” season. Preparedness is an integral part of our lives so as we enter the Holy Week, it is better to monitor weather updates to help us plan and adjust our activities.

Moving in a west northwest direction at 25 kilometers per hour, a tropical storm with international name “Bavi” is now being monitored by PAGASA. According to Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong, as of 8:00AM today, it was located at approximately 3,870 kilometers east of Mindanao.

“Bavi” is still too far to affect the country but if it maintains its speed and direction, it is expected to enter our boundary by Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning next week. All are advised to monitor updates and further development.

MTSAT Image from: http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/mtsat/twpac/rb-l.jpg
MTSAT Image from: http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/mtsat/twpac/rb-l.jpg

Meanwhile, compared to yesterday, the northeast monsoon or amihan has slightly weakened. It will affect Northern and Central Luzon, bringing cloudy skies with light rains over Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera Administrative Region and the province of Aurora. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have generally fair weather aside from possible isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

MTSAT Image from PAGASA.
MTSAT Image from PAGASA.

As amihan weakens, coastal waters throughout the archipelago will have slight to moderate conditions. Though gale warning was already lifted, all fishing boats and other small sea craft are still advised to be cautious in venturing out into the sea.

The presence of the prevailing amihan also affected the temperatures in Luzon but these were not as low as the previous records. Here are the lowest temperatures recorded in the Philippines yesterday, March 12, 2015:

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A tropical cyclone was spotted outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza said it is still too far to affect the country so continuous monitoring will be done by the weather bureau.

The northeast monsoon or amihan prevails over Luzon, bringing cloudy skies with light rains over Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, and the provinces of Aurora and Samar. Metro Manila and the rest of the country can expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

MTSAT Image from PAGASA
MTSAT Image from PAGASA

As amihan blows over the PAR, it continues to affect the sea condition. Gale warning is up over the eastern seaboard sof Luzon and Visayas, which includes Isabela, the eastern coasts of Cagayan, Aurora, Camarines Provinces, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Quezon, Polilio Island, Samar and Leyte. Waves with height ranging from 3.4 to 4.5 meters are expected.

Cloudy weather was experienced in some parts of the country yesterday. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez explained that the cloudiness brought by amihan has extended over Northern, Central and Southern Luzon. Due to the cloudy skies and rain showers, cooler weather was felt resulting to lower temperatures. Yesterday, the maximum temperature in Quezon City only reached 26.9 degrees Celsius, much lower than the previous days.

Cloudy skies over Quezon City

Weak El Niño to affect PH

Press Conference held in Science Garden, Quezon City

In a press conference held yesterday at the Science Garden, Quezon City, PAGASA confirms an on-going weak El Niño, which is characterized by the unusual warming of the ocean in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.

Aside from the below-normal rainfall, warmer air temperatures in the Philippines are also expected in the coming months. The number of tropical cyclone is less likely to be affected but El Niño can influence the cyclones’ movement and intensity. According to PAGASA, cyclones may be stronger, but with a greater chance of re-curving northward. All are advised to monitor updates and further development.