Due to the prevailing trough or extended cloudiness of the low pressure area (LPA), the CARAGA and Davao Regions will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jun Galang, the said LPA has a slim chance of entering the boundary. However, continuous monitoring will be done by the weather bureau.

Meanwhile, the ridge or the extended part of the high pressure area (HPA) continues to affect Northern Luzon, bringing partly cloudy to cloudy skies over the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos. 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.

To understand these prevailing weather systems, winds in a high pressure are associated with good and sunny weather. Fewer clouds are seen over the affected areas, thus, less chances of precipitation.

On the other hand, winds in a low pressure area are associated to rainy weather due to the presence of more clouds. LPA can form into a tropical cyclone or “bagyo” once it accumulates warmer air and higher humidity or amount of water vapor.

Dust storm affects UAE

The United Arab Emirates experienced a dust storm over the weekend. According to the National Center for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), high winds whipped up the dust and sand, leading to road accidents due to the reduced visibility.

Cases of asthma and other respiratory illnesses also increased to 25 percent. Child asthma and Allergy Specialist Dr. Pierre Majdalani said dustry air can trigger cough, cold, ear infection, asthma, viral infection and influenza.

NCMS meteorologist Sufian Farrah explained that a dust storm occurs when wind speed exceeds 30 kilometers per hour with visibility dropping to 1,000 meters or less. Farrah added that dust or sandstorms are normal during this time of the year.

A low pressure area (LPA) is being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), below the Philippines.

State Meteorologist Jori Loiz said the good news is, it is not expected to enter PAR and has a possibility of dissipating. However, its trough, or the extension of the LPA, affects Mindanao today.

In PAGASA’s latest weather forecast, Mindanao will experience light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

At the same time, the northeast monsoon returns to affect extreme Northern Luzon, bringing cloudy skies and light rains over the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos.

The remaining parts of the country, including Metro Manila, will be partly cloudy to cloudy, bearing fair weather conditions.

Meanwhile, temperatures are not as cool as the past few weeks. Loiz says although the northeast winds still affect the country, it will slowly wind down in the following weeks. Its influence on the country’s weather usually lasts up to late March. In 2014, PAGASA officially declared the termination of the Amihan Season on March 26.

WEATHER CONDITION: RAINY OR FAIR?

Today, Panahon TV delivered a trivia on how to determine if it will rain in the next few hours by the type of clouds seen in the skies. Loiz, in today’s interview, shares which clouds also herald fair weather conditions. See the video here: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=863142510396255&set=vb.441729975870846&type=2&theater

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio confirms that the cloud cluster has already developed into a low pressure area (LPA). As of 2:00 AM today, it was estimated at 2,600 kilometers east of Mindanao. Aurelio added it is still too far to affect any part of the country. However, all are still advised to monitor updates as it may enter the boundary next week.

Today, the tail end of a cold front and northeast monsoon will be the dominant weather systems. The tail end of a cold front is formed when the cold air mass dominates the warm air mass during a convergence. Northeast monsoon, locally known as amihan, is cold and dry air coming from Mainland China or Siberia.

The tail end of a cold front will dump light to moderate rain showers and isolated thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas and the Bicol Region. Cagayan Valley and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will experience cloudy skies with light rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of the Northern and Central Luzon can expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains while the rest of the country will have generally fair weather aside from possible isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

As amihan prevails over Luzon, dropping temperatures will continue. Here are the lowest temperatures recorded yesterday.

Meanwhile, gale warning was already terminated by PAGASA because the amihan has weakened. However, the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon will have moderate to rough sea condition with wave height ranging from 2.1 to 4 meters.

Parañaque to celebrate cityhood anniversary

By virtue of Proclamation No.955, Malacañang has declared Februrary 13 (Friday) as a special non-working holiday in Parañaque City. This is to give the people the full opportunity to participate in the activities in line with their cityhood anniversary.

Tomorrow’s event also aims to highlight the richness of city’s heritage and to mark Parañaque as an economic and business powerhouse. According to the city’s official website, the celebration will include a colorful Karakol procession and Sunduan Festival at Bulungan, Barangay Huerta.

Though the Low Pressure Area (LPA), formerly Bagyong Amang, continues to bring light to moderate rains in the regions of Cagayan Valley and Cordillera, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier says it is expected to dissipate within 24 hours. Afterwhich, the northeast monsoon will then prevail in Luzon.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience cloudy skies with light rains due to the said weather system. Visayas and Mindanao can expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

With the strong surge of the northeast monsoon, PAGASA has issued a new gale warning. Rough to very rough sea conditions are expected in the seaboards of Northern Luzon. The agency advises against sea travel in the mentioned coasts in the following hours.

In other news, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook Simunul, Tawi-Tawi at 1:19 AM today. PHIVOLCS reported an intensity 4 in Simunul, Bongao and Panglima Sugala in Tawi-Tawi and in Siasi in Sulu. Intensity 3 was recorded in Languyan, Tawi-Tawi and in Maimbung, Sulu. Although there is no expected damage after the quake, aftershocks in the following hours may occur.

Bagyong Amang came when the Pope arrived in the Philippines. Now it’s dissipating on the same day Pope Francis is leaving the country.

Amang, known as Mekkhala internationally, has weakened into a low pressure area this morning. Public Storm Warning Signals have been lifted.

Estimated at 85 km Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora at 10 am today, it is still expected to bring light to moderate rains over the regions Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos.

State Meteorologist Glaiza Escullar says that the said weather disturbance has weakened due to the following factors:

1) Vertical wind shear. With a stronger wind shear, the heat is dispersed over a large area, weakening the tropical cyclone.

2) Friction effect.

3) Sea condition. As it moves relatively northward, the sea surface temperature gets lower, unable to sustain the strength of the bagyo.

4) Northeast monsoon. Cold and dry air intrusion is not conducive for any weather disturbance as this needs warm temperature to develop.

Expected to dissipate within 24 hours, Amang has made landfall thrice as a tropical cyclone and has crossed another as a low pressure area. Here’s its latest landfall track:

Today, the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos will continue to experience light to moderate rains due to the existing weather disturbance. The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will have cloudy skies with light rains caused by the prevailing northeast monsoon.

Visayas and Mindanao, on the other hand, can expect improved weather conditions apart from isolated thunderstorms.

In other related news, gale warning has been issued over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon. Wave height may reach up to 4.5 meters, making sea travel risky
in the following hours.

LAST DAY OF THE PAPAL VISIT

After a 5-day visit, the Pope will be leaving for Rome at 10 AM today. A departure ceremony will be held at the Presidential Pavilion of the Villamor Airbase.

Eastern and Central Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and possible thunderstorms due to the trough or the extension of a low pressure area (LPA). The rest of Visayas will have fair weather apart from isolated cases of rains.

The northeast monsoon continues to prevail over Luzon, bringing cloudy skies with light rains in the regions of Cagayan Valley and Cordillera. As for Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, skies will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated light rains.

Meanwhile, the LPA is now estimated at 1,990 kms. east of Mindanao. State Meteorologist Buddy Javier says it is still expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday.

Current data analysis shows a less probability of the LPA crossing the Visayas as compared to it moving towards Luzon before recurving to the northeast where it will weaken due to cold air intrusion. PAGASA implements continuous monitoring as significant changes may occur.

PAPAL VISIT WEATHER OUTLOOK

PAGASA releases a special weather outlook during Pope Francis’s visit covering January 13 to 19, 2015.

Starting January 13-17, Metro Manila is expected to have generally good weather condition aside from passing light rains due to the northeast monsoon. However, moderate to heavy rains are possible come Sunday, January 18, as the monitored weather disturbance is expected to move near the eastern side of Southern Luzon. By Monday, January 19, a rainy weather condition will continue in Metro Manila as the weather disturbance moves north and is expected to recurve in a northeast direction.

Meanwhile, in Tacloban, light to moderate rain showers are expected on Friday and Saturday (January 16-17). Thunderstorms are also likely to occur. This weather condition will continue on Sunday. Improved weather conditions are then expected by Monday.

The northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan” still prevails over Luzon this Monday, bringing cloudy skies with light rains over the regions of Cagayan Valley and Cordillera. Isolate cases of light rains are also expected in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

Eastern Visayas, CARAGA and Davao regions, on the other hand, will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorm, while the rest of Visayas and Mindanao can expect a fair weather condition apart from localized thunderstorms.

Strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas. Sea travel is risky due to the rough to very rough sea conditions generated by the strong surge of the northeast monsoon.

Meanwhile, PAGASA continues to monitor the low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier says it is expected to enter PAR on Thursday. Current analysis of the forecasting models show three scenarios of what may happen to the said weather disturbance – to dissipate, to recurve or to intensify as a tropical cyclone, which would make it the first bagyo this year.

In other news, a 4.9-magnitude earthquake was recorded 73 kms. east of Hernani in Eastern Samar at 12:07 this morning. There are no expected aftershocks or damage that may occur in the following hours, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

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.

The northeast monsoon or amihan, characterized as cold and dry air coming from Mainland China, continues to prevail over Northern Luzon. The tail end of a cold front will also prevail over Central and Southern Luzon. This weather system occurs when the cold air dominates the warm air mass during convergence.

Meanwhile, the trough or the extended cloudiness of a low pressure area (LPA) will affect Mindanao. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jun Galang said that as the LPA moves in a westward direction, there is a slim chance for it to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).Continuous monitoring will be done since the clouds of the said LPA are already disorganized.

This Wednesday, rainfall will be concentrated over Metro Manila, Rizal, Aurora, Quezon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao. These areas will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. The regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos will be cloudy with light rains while the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Strong winds associated with the surge of amihan will bring rough to very rough sea conditions over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon, western seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon. Sea travel is risky over Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, the northern coast of Cagayan. Ilocos, La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Zambales, Isabela, and the eastern coasts of Cagayan and Aurora.

Simbang Gabi Forecast

“Simbang Gabi” or “Misa de Gallo” began yesterday, the 16th of December. Here’s a special weather forecast for those who are going to attend the anticipated mass this evening.