The cloud cluster being monitored by PAGASA has already developed into a weather disturbance. At 4:00 AM today, the low pressure area (LPA) was estimated at 220 kilometers east of Surigao City. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Glaiza Escullar said it has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone as it moves closer to cross the southern part of Visayas and Northern Mindanao today. The LPA could dissipate within the next 24 hours.

Aside from the LPA, the tail end of a cold front, wherein the cold air mass dominates the warm air during convergence, will also affect Central Luzon. On the other hand, the northeast monsoon or amihan, characterized as cold and dry air coming from Siberia, continues to prevail over the Northern Luzon. These weather systems are expected to bring rains over some parts of the country.

Central Luzon, Eastern Visayas and CARAGA will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. The regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos will have cloudy skies with light rains. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Due to the surge of amihan, gale warning remains over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, which include Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Cagayan, Isabela. Ilocos, La Union and Pangasinan. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are prohibited from venturing out due to the rough to very rough sea conditions.

Amihan also brings a slight temperature drop over the north. Basco, Batanes felt a chilly morning yesterday with a temperature of 15.6 degrees Celsius. Below are the lowest temperatures recorded by PAGASA yesterday, on the 15th of December.

The cloud clusters being monitored this weekend is now inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

State meteorologist Buddy Javier says in an interview with PanahonTV this morning that the said clouds have not yet developed into a low pressure area. However, continuous monitoring will be implemented as these are forecast to move closer to our landmass and bring rains in the eastern section of Visayas and Mindanao.

Today, the tail-end of a cold front will bring light to moderate rain showers in the provinces of Aurora, Quezon and Palawan. Meanwhile, light rains will be experienced in Northern Luzon, particularly over the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos due to the northeast monsoon. The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, can expect fair weather conditions apart from localized rain showers or thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, rough to very rough sea condition is expected over the seaboards of Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, the northern and eastern coast of Cagayan, the northern coast of Ilocos Norte and Isabela as well as the eastern seaboards of Aurora, Zambales and Bataan. The agency advises against sea travel in the mentioned coasts due to the strong to gale force winds associated with the northeast monsoon surge.

TRIVIA OF THE DAY

As we count 10 more days until Christmas, many Catholics prepare to attend the Simbang Gabi starting tomorrow at dawn. Simbang gabi, also known as Misa de Gallo, is a Filipino Christmas tradition practiced by Roman Catholics in anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Originating from the days of Spanish rule, it is a 9-day series of masses from December 16 to 24, the last of which is the midnight mass.

Most Filipinos believe that if a devotee completes the nine days of the Simbang Gabi, a request or wish will be granted. After the mass, churchgoers would buy and eat traditional delicacies such as bibingka and puto bumbong sold in the food stalls in the churchyard.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is continuously monitoring the low pressure area (LPA) within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). At 4:00 PM today, it was spotted at 170 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Fernando Cada, it has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone. Cada adds that as the LPA moves closer to the landmass of Eastern Visayas, it is expected to dissipate within the next 12 to 24 hours. However, if it does not dissipate, the clouds could disorganize and merge with a frontal system which will bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over the eastern section of Southern and Central Luzon.

Aside from the weather disturbance, the northeast monsoon or amihan prevails over the Northern Luzon. The outer cloud bands of the LPA and the winds associated with amihan are expected to dump rains over some parts of the country.

Eastern Visayas will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms. Residents are alerted against possible flash floods or landslides. The rest of Visayas, Bicol Region and the provinces of Quezon, Marinduque and Romblon will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.

Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos region will be cloudy with chances of light rains. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Meanwhile, another cloud cluster is now being monitored outside the PAR. Located east of Southern Mindanao, this cloud cluster could be a potential LPA in the next few days. However, it is still too far to affect the country and is still under observation.

“Pineapple Express” hits California

California has been battling with a major storm dubbed as the “Pineapple Express” for a couple of days now. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), together with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) explained that this phenomenon happens when warm air and enormous amount of moisture are transported from the Central Pacific to the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Pineapple Express is composed of stream of clouds and moisture that could result to intense rain storms just like what is now experienced in California.

The storm system has brought violent rainfall causing flood and mudslides. Strong winds and tornadoes also smashed trees and damaged homes. The inclement weather caused flight cancellations and power outages that left many people in the dark. Police and rescue teams are continuously providing help and assistance to those who are affected.

Source: PAGASA-DOST, NASA, NOAA

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.

Before departing from the Philippine boundary, Ruby has intensified into Tropical Storm category with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of about 80 kph. PAGASA weather forecaster Benison Estareja said that this because Ruby is within the vicinity of the West Philippines Sea–it’s increase in intensity due to the moisture it had gathered from the ocean.

Tropical storm Ruby was last located at 505 kilometers west southwest of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, moving at a speed of 20 kph. If it maintains its velocity, Ruby will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tonight according to PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio. Because of its distance, it will have no direct effect on any part of the country, confirmed Estareja.

Cold Weather awaits

The northeast monsoon has found its way again to Northern Luzon. Cold weather with lights rains will be experienced mostly in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos Region.
Baguio City’s temperature will range from 15 to 23 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, with the intrusion of winds from the east, fair weather is expected over Metro Manila and the rest of the country. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers are possible in the afternoon or evening.

Top 3 places with highest amount of rainfall

During the passage of Ruby, areas in Southern Luzon has recorded the highest amount of rainfall.

As the low pressure area (LPA) in the west of the country dissipated yesterday, a new LPA is spotted approximately 2,000 kilometers from the eastern boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

State weather forecaster Chris Perez says it has a possibility of intensifying into a tropical cyclone within 24 to 48 hours. Forecasting models show the weather disturbance entering PAR by Friday.

Perez adds that there are two likely scenarios that depend on the high pressure area northeast of the Philippines–the first is the LPA entering our area of responsibility and recurving to the northeast, and the second is the cyclone making landfall across Central Philippines.

PAGASA is closely monitoring the said weather disturbance as it is expected to be strong due to its proximity to the country. It could also intensify, gaining strength over the Pacific ocean.

It is noted though, that the location of the current weather disturbance is also where Super Typhoon Yolanda was formed last year. In case it intensifies into a cyclone and enters PAR, it will be named Bagyong Ruby, the first cyclone this month.

According to PAGASA’s climatological records, an average of one to two cyclones enter the PAR during December, with a high probability of landfalling in Visayas and Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Perez said the easterlies will remain the dominant weather system today, bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies. Possible thunderstorms and isolated rain showers are expected, mostly over the eastern section of the country.

Also, a gale warning is issued over the northern seaboards of Northern Luzon. Expect rough to very rough sea conditions and strong to gale force winds due to the surge of the northeast monsoon.

The cloud cluster spotted yesterday morning has developed into a low pressure area (LPA). It has already entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and was estimated at 880 kilometers east of Mindanao this 4:00 AM.

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Glaiza Escullar said the LPA has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone. However, it is expected to move towards Eastern Visayas, traverse the areas of Visayas region until it reaches Palawan. The weather bureau continues to monitor the said weather disturbance.

Meanwhile, the easterlies characterized by warm and humid air coming from the Pacific, will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly over the eastern section.

On the other hand, the northeast monsoon or amihan has slightly weakened. Coastal waters over Northern Luzon will be moderate to rough while the rest of the country will experience slight to moderate seas.

Special Non-working day in Maragusan

Pursuant to Proclamation No. 908, today was declared as a special non working day in Maragusan, Compostella Valley, This is to give the people an opportunity to participate with the activities in line with the Foundation Day Anniversary of the municipality.

PAGASA is currently monitoring a new cloud cluster east of Mindanao, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). State weather forecaster Buddy Javier says it has a possibility of developing into a Low Pressure Area within 48 hours. Easterlies still prevail over the eastern section of Mindanao, bringing possible thunderstorms late in the afternoon or evening.

Meanwhile, the Bicol Region and Samar province will experience light to moderate rain showers due to the tail-end of a cold front affecting Southern Luzon. Metro Manila and the remaining part of the country will experience fair weather .

Good news to our fishermen: no gale warning has been issued today. Sea travel is safe in all seaboards in the following hours.

DECEMBER: WHAT TO EXPECT

As we’re down to the last week of November, here’s a sneak preview of what to expect, weather-wise, this December.

The northeast monsoon or hanging amihan will continue to bring lower temperatures, especially in the northern regions of the country.
With this, the formation of a tail-end of a cold front is generally possible in the eastern section of Luzon as the easterlies prevail over the eastern section of Visayas and Mindanao. When it comes to tropical cyclones, an average of 1 to 2 is expected to enter PAR.

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