Some areas in Northern and Central Luzon will continue to experience lights rains today.
 
According to PAGASA, the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan prevails in Northern Luzon, bringing cloudy skies with light rains in Cordillera, Batanes, Babuyan, Cagayan and Ilocos Norte. In Isabela, Aurora and Quezon, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced due to the Tail-End of a Cold Front. In the rest of the country, including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will be experienced but localized thunderstorms are still possible.
 

 
Because of the surge of Amihan, gale warning is still in effect off the seaboards of Northern Luzon where wave height may reach up to 3.4 to 4.5 meters. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves in Batanes, the Babuyan Group of Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the northern and eastern coasts of Cagayan, Isabela.
 
Supermoon brightened the sky
Last night, a larger and brighter moon graced the skies to the delight of selenophiles or moon lovers.
This astronomical event happens when the moon, at a full phase, coincides with the perigee or its closest distance to the Earth. Yesterday, the moon reached its perigee at 4:43 PM and its full phase at 11:47 PM. PAGASA said that the moon appeared 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual.
 

After a two-week hiatus, the Southwest Monsoon prevails in the country again.

Locally known as Habagat, the 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.

Cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail in Visayas, Mindanao, the Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, MIMAROPA, Batanes and the Babuyan Group of Islands. Meanwhile, the rest of Luzon including Metro Manila will experience generally fair weather with localized thunderstorms.

Special Weather Forecast

Classes in public schools and work in government offices for tomorrow September 21, 2017 have been suspended. According to Malacañang, the declaration is in line with the 45th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law and will not be a special non-working holiday but a “Day of Protest.”

Pro and anti-government activities are expected to be staged tomorrow, while some may use the suspension to unwind from work and school. According to PAGASA, no weather disturbance is expected to affect the country during the observance.

ITCZ dampens Southern Mindanao

Lightning, occasionally heavy rains, strong winds and flash floods are possible in Southern Mindanao as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affects the region today.

The ITCZ is an area where winds coming from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet; this interaction results in rains in the affected areas. ITCZ is also composed of a series of Low Pressure Areas (LPA) which can develop into weather disturbances.

As this weather system prevails, the Zamboanga Peninsula, SOCSKSARGEN, ARMM and Davao Region will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. The rest of Mindanao, all the way up to Visayas and Luzon will have generally fair weather except for chances of localized thunderstorms.

In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez, he mentioned that no weather disturbance affects the country today but a cloud cluster is being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

(As of 9:00 PM today) Due to the inclement weather brought by Tropical Depression Maring, here’s a list of schools and areas where classes have been suspended for tomorrow, September 13, 2017.

ALL LEVELS

Muntinlupa
Las Piñas
Cavite Province
University of Santo Tomas
Laguna Province
Olongapo City
Zambales Province
Guagua, Pampanga
Bulacan: Meycauayan, Marilao
Rizal: Baras, Angono, San Mateo, Morong, Tanay, Taytay, Cainta, Binangonan, Pililla, Rodriguez

PRESCHOOL TO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Batangas Province

ITCZ dampens National Heroes Day celebration

Filipinos continue to enjoy the three-day weekend as the country celebrates its annual National Heroes Day or Pambansang Araw ng mga Bayani.

But amidst the celebration, residents of some areas are warned about possible effects of the prevailing weather system, the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The ITCZ is an area where winds coming from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet; this interaction results in rains in the affected areas. ITCZ is also composed of a series of Low Pressure Areas (LPA) which can develop into weather disturbances.

Today, the Bicol Region, Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao and Zamboanga Peninsula will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and possible thunderstorms. In the rest of the country including Metro Manila, fair weather will prevail except for isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.

New weather disturbance spotted outside PAR

Meanwhile, the tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is still being monitored. At 3:00 AM today, it was located at 2,590 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon. It has maximum sustained winds of 40 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 50 kph. If this weather disturbance continues to move in a north-northwest direction, it may no longer enter PAR.

Rains affect western section of Luzon

The Southwest Monsoon, warm and moist air coming from the Indian Ocean has slightly weakened in the absence of a weather disturbance surrounding the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

But today, it still affects the western section of Northern and Central Luzon, bringing cloudy skies with light to moderate rains in Ilocos Region, Zambales and Bataan.

In the rest of Luzon including Metro Manila, down to Visayas and Mindanao, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail with possible isolated rain shower and thunderstorms.

The country will remain storm-free in the next two to three days.

Question of the Day
Panahon TV follower Gerby Flores asked: “Ilang bagyo ang papasok kapag August?” (How many tropical cyclones will enter or develop this August?)

According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong, two to four tropical cyclones may enter or develop in PAR this month based on climatological records.

These tropical cyclones’ track may be a hit or miss. If these weather disturbances hit the landmass, it may make landfall in Northern Luzon.

Warm Weather on Rizal’s Birth Anniversary

The Ridge of a High Pressure Area (HPA) continues to bring generally fair weather in the country. This weather system suppresses cloud formation, causing lesser chance of rains. As it prevails today, partly cloudy to cloudy skies prevail in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao though isolated rain showers and thunderstorms are still possible.

In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran, he mentioned that no weather disturbance is expected to affect the country within the next two to three days.

Non-working Holiday

While it’s a back-to-work Monday in most areas of the country, some provinces are enjoying an extended vacation today. These include Ifugao, which celebrates its provincial foundation anniversary, and Laguna, the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal whose birth we commemorate today.

Here are expected weather conditions and temperatures in these areas:

Rains in Soccsksargen areas

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) continues to bring rains to some areas in Southern Mindanao.

This Saturday, portions of the Soccsksargen Region, including Sarangani and South Cotabato should still brace for light to moderate rains. Meanwhile, in the rest of Mindanao, a generally fair weather will be experienced. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail in Luzon and Visayas.

In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Obet Badrina, he mentioned that no tropical cyclone is expected to affect the country this weekend.

Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week 2017
Meanwhile, to further strengthen the nation’s readiness for tropical cyclones and their possible effects, the Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week 2017 was officially launched.

In a press conference held in Quezon City yesterday, Dr. Esperanza O. Cayanan, the chief of PAGASA Weather Division, highlighted that the bureau will now use “impact-based” information dissemination instead of focusing on the figures and data.

Nine to 14 tropical cyclones are expected to enter or develop within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) until November this year.

Warm Wednesday and Monsoon Break

In the midst of the Rainy Season, generally fair and warm weather is expected with the presence of the Ridge of a High Pressure Area (HPA) today.

“Ridge” refers to the extended part of an HPA or an anticyclone. Unlike a Low Pressure Area, this indicates an area where the atmospheric pressure is higher than its surroundings. Formation of clouds is usually suppressed, thus, less chance of rains. As it extends across Luzon, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of the country only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

In an interview with PanahonTV, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Robert Badrina said that the country is on a monsoon break.

Badrina also said that the country will experience a storm-free week.