PAGASA monitored three weather systems affecting the country today. The northeast monsoon or amihan is affecting Northern Luzon while the tail end of a cold front is affecting Eastern Visayas. Meanwhile, the trough of low pressure area (LPA) is still affecting Southern Luzon.

According to PAGASA weather forecaster Alvin Pura, only the trough or the extension of LPA is affecting the said area, but the LPA alone is outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and has a slim chance of entering the boundary.

Today, the Bicol Region, Visayas and Mindanano will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Light rains will be experienced in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos Region.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have fair weather conditions. Isolated rains are still expected in the afternoon or evening.

Lowest Temperature in Quezon City

Throughout the amihan season, Quezon City has recorded its lowest temperature today. As of 5 AM, temperature dropped to 20.8 degree Celsius.

Pura said that an even lower temperature might be experienced in the next coming days.

As Ruby makes its way outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), a new low pressure area (LPA) is being monitored by PAGASA. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jun Galang, the LPA was located at 1,500 kilometers east-southeast of Mindanao. Based on available data, the LPA has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone. It is expected to enter PAR on Friday, Galang added.

Today, areas in Northern Luzon, particularly Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos Region will experience cold weather with light rains due to the northeast mosoon or hanging amihan.

With the continuous surge of the amihan, PAGASA issued a gale warning over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and along the western seaboard of Central Luzon. This includes Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Provinces, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan. Due to strong to gale force winds, rough to very rough sea conditions are expected in the said areas.

Meanwhile, weather in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao is expected to improve. Only isolated rains and thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon or evening.

Lowest Temperature dropped to 15 degree Celsius

Because the amihan is the prevailing wind system in the country, this results to cold weather especially in areas situated in Northern Luzon.

According to PAGASA, the amihan usually peaks in the month of January or February. The temperatures below will gradually decrease in the coming days.

The northeast monsoon or amihan, characterized by cold and dry air coming from Mainland China, will affect extreme Northern Luzon while the easterlies will prevail over the eastern section of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Easterlies are winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, which bring warm and humid weather.

Partly cloudy skies with isolated light rains are expected over Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and the Ilocos Region. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, mostly in the eastern section.

Based on the records of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the following areas felt the lowest temperatures this morning:

Compared to yesterday, temperatures today are much lower as the amihan blows over Luzon.

What to expect on the 2nd half of November

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Alvin Pura said the amihan is expected to intensify in the following days, bringing chillier early mornings. Pura added that longer nights are expected as the Winter Solstice approaches the Northern Hemisphere. Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year, either on December 21 or 22. Longer nights mean shorter exposure to sun rays, contributing to the colder weather during “ber” months.

Another thing to keep in mind is the possible formation of weather disturbances. Pura explained that tropical cyclones during this season have a higher chance of hitting the landmass or making their landfall.

Meanwhile, experts continue to monitor the possible impact of an El Niño Phenomenon in the last quarter of 2014. El Niño is characterized by the unusual warming of the sea surface temperature. According to the latest information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the probability of an El Niño Phenomenon at this time has been lowered to 58% from 65%.

PAGASA clarified that we are still in the neutral condition so if El Niño occurs this year, it will be weak. The next update will be released on December 4, 2014.