Light to moderate rains in Palawan
On the first Saturday of June, the Southwest Monsoon, which is warm and moist air locally known as Habagat is still affecting the western section of Luzon.
As this weather system prevails, cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms will be experienced in the province of Palawan. In Metro Manila and the rest of the country, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail.
While the Habagat dumps rains on some parts of Luzon, residents are alerted against heavy rains, which may trigger flash floods and landslides. It can be recalled that five persons perished in a landslide that occurred in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan last Monday night. According to reports, the victims were composed of a family of four and an infant.
Photos courtesy of Brigada News FM Palawan.
However, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza clarified that there is no weather disturbance affecting the country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIE_MuLGYuQ
As we welcome the month of June, we also officially bid goodbye to the Tag-Init Season as PAGASA declared the onset of the Rainy Season yesterday evening.
In a press statement, the weather bureau said that widespread rainfall has been observed these past few days. Most parts of the country are likely to experience near to above-normal rainfall conditions in June to July. However, breaks from the rains will occur, possibly lasting for several days to weeks due to the persistence of the Ridge of High-Pressure Area in the North Pacific.
In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong, the following criteria for declaring the onset of tag-ulan have been satisfied:
– A total rainfall amount of 25 millimeters or more in three consecutive days which must be recorded at no less than five of these stations: Laoag, Vigan, Dagupan, Iba, Mindoro Occidental, Ambulong, Iloilo, and Metro Manila
– Widespread rainfall due to the prevailing winds brought by the Southwest Monsoon or Hanging Habagat
– Daily thunderstorm activity
To help you stay protected on rainy days, make sure you have the following:
Frontal system and Habagat bring rains to Luzon
Rains will prevail in most parts of Luzon on the last Sunday of May 2017.
According to PAGASA, the Frontal System is affecting the extreme Northern Luzon, while the Southwest Monsoon dominates the western section of Northern and Central Luzon. Frontal System refers to the boundary of two different air masses. Once this weather system becomes dominant in an area, it will generate convective clouds which will bring thunderstorms. Southwest Monsoon is defined as warm and moist winds moving in a southwest direction. Due to these characteristics, Habagat can cause monsoon rains that can last for a couple of days or even a week
As these weather systems prevail today, Ilocos Region, Cordillera and Batanes will experience moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms. Residents of these areas are alerted against flash floods and landslides. In Central Luzon and the rest of Cagayan Valley, light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced. For the rest of Luzon, down to Visayas and Mindanao, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail, only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
While the present Habagat is categorized as weak, this, along with the Frontal System, has brought significant rainfall to some areas in Luzon. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong, last week’s top three highest rainfall were recorded in these areas;
Batanes – 232 millimeters (mm) of rain in 24 hours – May 26, 2017
Calapan – 75.2 mm of rain in 24 hours – May 25, 2017
Casiguran – 76.2 mm of rain in 24 hours – May 24, 2017
This weekend, remember to bring your umbrellas as you make your “huling hirit sa tag-init,” because the prevailing Southwest Monsoon or Habagat brings possibilities of rains. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Loriedin dela Cruz, the habagat is in effect in the western section of Luzon and Visayas.
With its warm and moist characteristics, the habagat will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms to the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, MIMAROPA, CALABARZON, Bicol, Western Visayas and the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Zambales and Bataan. In the remaining parts of the country including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies prevails only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Photo courtesy of Nelson M. Velasco, Daraga, Albay
Dela Cruz adds that no weather disturbance is expected to affect the country in the next two days.
In a ceremony held at the Weather and Flood Forecasting Center of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in Quezon City last Wednesday, DOST-PAGASA inaugurated the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS) Data Analysis System in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The system will receive and analyze data from COMS, the first geostationary multi-purpose satellite of Korea, which was launched in space in 2010. Stationed 36,000 kilometers above the Earth’s equator, the satellite performs meteorological mission, ocean observations, and communications services. It can generate sixteen types of analysis data for weather forecasting and numerical prediction.
The COMS Satellite Receiving System is installed at the PAGASA Center in Quezon City and its four regional offices in Tuguegarao, Legazpi, Lapu-Lapu and El Salvador City.
In his message during the ceremony, PAGASA Administrator Dr. Vicente Malano expressed his appreciation to KOICA for its assistance in the project that will benefit Filipinos. “This multi-million project, made possible through the Korean government’s grant aid and technical cooperation program, is guaranteed to help strengthen PAGASA’s capacity to receive and analyze meteorological satellite data and thereby enhancing weather monitoring and improving weather forecast accuracy.”
photos from DOST-PAGASA Facebook
Meanwhile, KOICA Philippine Coordinator Myun Seop Shing conveyed his hopes for the project’s success. “The Philippines has long been vulnerable to extreme weather conditions and is one of the countries greatly affected by climate change… It is my sincere hope that this project will be a best practice among all our partnership projects which play an important role in achieving the Philippine Development Plan and also will strengthen the friendship and cooperative relations of the two countries.”
After soaking portions of Mindanao these past days, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) has oscillated southward, reducing its effects on the region.
While it has been warm and humid in Luzon and Visayas since last week, the ITCZ, known as the breeding ground of Low Pressure Areas (LPA), brought rains in several areas in Mindanao. Landslides have transpired in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte and Brgy. Napangan in Don Victoriano, Misamis Occidental because of heavy rains last Sunday.
Photos from Don Victorino Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Because of the prevailing Easterlies or warm and humid air from the Pacific Ocean, Mindanao weather is expected to improve. This Tuesday, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced in the Davao Region. In Luzon, Visayas and the rest of Mindanao, generally fair weather will prevail except for isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Temperatures are still expected to soar with the highest heat index possible in Tuguegarao.
Generally fair weather prevails today. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will affect the archipelago only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening as Easterlies, or warm and humid air from the Pacific Ocean, dominates.
Perez said, warm and humid weather is still expected today and heat index can soar up to 39.6 degrees Celsius.
If this good weather continues, we can enjoy various festivals this month.
In the Philippines, each city or municipality has a local festival of its own. The celebration includes the feast of the town’s patron saint, as well as an abundance of local products. Some of the festivals celebrated in May are the Bawang Festival of Ilocos province, the Hundred Islands Festival in Pangasinan, the Pahiyas Festival in Quezon, and the Flores de Mayo in almost every town.
Photo from PanahonTV Live Producer Paul Michael Caisip
A new weather disturbance is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this week.
According to PAGASA, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) previously spotted outside PAR has developed into a tropical depression. As of 10 AM, it was located 1,540 kilometers east of Mindanao. It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gustiness of 60 kph, slowly moving at a west-northwest direction.
According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Loriedin dela Cruz, the LPA can possibly enter PAR within 24 hours. If this happens, the tropical depression will be given the local name “Dante,” this month’s second tropical cyclone.
Today, Easterlies or warm and humid air from the Pacific Ocean prevail in the eastern sections of the country. This weather system will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies or generally fair weather in the entire archipelago except for isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. Humid weather is still expected to prevail.
The Hot and Dy Season continues to draw travelers to the country’s world famous beaches and attractions. If you’re planning to hit the beach today, the weather will be in your favor!
According to PAGASA, the Ridge of a High Pressure Area (HPA) extends across Luzon and Visayas, while Easterlies prevail in the eastern section of Mindanao. “Ridge” refers to the extended part of a High Pressure Area or an anticyclone. When this weather system prevails, formation of clouds is usually suppressed, producing less chance of rains. Meanwhile, Easterlies are warm and humid winds coming from the Pacific Ocean. However, since warm air or heat is a major factor for cloud formation, Easterlies can also generate isolated thunderstorms, mostly in the afternoon or evening.
The entire country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies, or generally fair weather except for isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the latter part of the day.
Humid weather is still expected today. The highest temperature can reach up to 36 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao.
