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Lando (international name: Koppu) has slowed down while moving towards Isabela-Aurora area. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran said that the High Pressure Area (HPA) in the West Philippine Sea is blocking Lando (Koppu). Because of this, Lando (Koppu) has no definite date of leaving Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

As of 12:00 NN, the center of typhoon Lando (Koppu) was located at 260 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora with maximum winds of 160 kph and gustiness of about 195 kph, moving west at 10 kph.

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The forecast tracks of PAGASA and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) suggest that Lando (Koppu) is expected to make landfall over the Isabela-Aurora area tomorrow morning, and will move northward after its landfall activity.

Duran said that the landfall activity could weaken Lando (Koppu), but it will still remain under typhoon category. The weather disturbance is expected to exit landmass through Ilocos Norte on Wednesday.

Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS)
Areas under PSWS #2 and #3 are prone to storm surges. Storm surge is the abnormal rise of sea level along the coast caused by the onshore winds of a storm.

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Luzon Flood Prone Areas
Apart from areas under PSWS, the outer cloud band of LandO (Koppu) will bring moderate to heavy rain showers. Floods threaten Luzon especially those in low-lying areas.

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Weather Today
The Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and the provinces of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, and Polillo Islands will experience stormy weather brought by Lando (Koppu).

Rains and gusty winds will be experienced in Metro Manila, the Bicol Region, the rest of Central Luzon and CALABARZON, while Visayas and the rest of Luzon will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers. Generally good weather will prevail in Mindanao.

Despite the warm air of El Niño, colder days are expected in the coming weeks.

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According to PAGASA, the country is currently in the transition period. But what does this mean?

Transition period is a phase where masses of cold and dry air and warm, humid air meet. This point is called the frontal system, which normally brings rain showers.
PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez states that the cold front is usually the precursor of the amihan or northeast monsoon. When the tail end of a cold front affects Luzon or Visayas areas, this means that the northeast monsoon is slowly affecting the Extreme Northern Luzon, and will eventually move southward.

The onset of northeast monsoon will happen somewhere between the last week of October and the first week of November, and will peak in the month of either January or February.

Amihan is responsible for lower temperatures, characterized by cold and dry air coming from Mainland China. During amihan season, cirrus clouds dominate the sky, bringing good weather. Compared to the southwest monsoon season, fewer thunderstorms are likely to happen during this season.

Last year, the onset of amihan was declared on October 16, 2014.

The tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) was last located at 2,535 kms, east of Luzon with maximum winds of 45 kph near the center. If the weather disturbance continues to move west-northwest at 25 kph, it is expected to enter PAR tomorrow evening or on Thursday morning.

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jori Loiz said that it will be named “Lando” upon entering Philippine boundary.

Forecast Track
The weather bureau is now considering two possible scenarios. First, the cyclone could move upward and will spare the Philippine landmass from landfall activity. Second, if the high pressure area remains persistent, the cyclone will make landfall in the northern part of Luzon.

Whatever the outcome, the tropical depression will definitely bring rain showers in most parts of Northern Luzon.

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Weather today

Today, the tail end of a cold front is affecting the extreme Northern Luzon. This will bring light to moderate rain showers in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon and over the islands of Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan.

The rest of the country will have generally good weather apart from isolated rains and thunderstorms.

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3 months to go before Christmas! But before you start decorating your home and playing Christmas carols, know what to expect this month, weather-wise.

PAGASA declared an El Niño event, likely to strengthen before the end of this year, and may last until April to June of 2016. The weather bureau added that this event could be potentially included in the four strongest El Nino events since 1950. Impacts may include below-normal rainfall, and warmer than normal air temperature.

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This month, here are the weather systems likely to prevail:
Tail End of a Cold Front
The Cold Front is an area in the atmosphere where masses of warm and cold air converge, resulting in thunderstorms. Ordinarily the Axis of the Cold Front is in the level of Taiwan or Japan. The only part that is affecting the Philippines is its tail end.

Easterly Wave
The Easterly Wave, also known as Easterlies, are winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, bringing warm and humid air. PAGASA said that the easterly wave could prevail during the month of October before the northeast monsoon (amihan) breaks in. The eastern parts of the country are most likely to experience its effect: thunderstorms and isolated rain showers.

2 Tropical Cyclones this month
Because of the El Niño phenomenon, the average tropical cyclones that are likely to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this month are between 1-2. Normally, October has an average of 2 to 3 tropical cyclones.

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
The ITCZ is an area in the atmosphere where winds from the Southern and Northern Hemispheres meet—a convergence that contributes to cloud formation. According to PAGASA, the axis of ITCZ is erratic, so it may affect any part of the country, usually bringing cloudy skies and light to moderate rain showers.

Low Pressure Area
The LPA is an area that has a lower atmospheric pressure than its surrounding locations. This is usually formed in the Pacific Ocean where most water vapor is available. LPA brings light to moderate and sometimes, heavy rain showers. This could also intensify into a tropical cyclone.

October’s Temperature
PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jun Galang explained that during October, temperatures start to deviate which result to colder days. The transition of winds from the Southwest to the Northeast Monsoon influences the average temperature.
Normally, the northeast monsoon (amihan) prevails in the 2nd week of November.
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Overall, most of the weather systems this month produce cloudy sky and rain showers. It is advisable to keep monitoring weather updates straight from Panahon TV and PAGASA.

FAST FACTS – October Rainfall Forecast

Below normal rainfall is among the adverse effect of El Niño. This could lead to dry spell and drought condition.

Based on the rainfall forecast from the weather bureau, most parts of the country including the western section of central Luzon and areas over and southern Luzon, western Visayas and some parts of eastern Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula will have way below normal rainfall.

The Ridge of High Pressure Area extends over the Northern Luzon. Because of this, the whole country will have sunny weather. However, PAGASA warns of isolated rain showers which normally occurs in the afternoon or evening.

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Haze in Cebu City

According to environment officials, the haze presence in Cebu City may be the effect of the wildfire raging in Indonesia.

Because of this, temperatures significantly dropped. Normally, the city has an average of 32 degrees Celcius, but with the haze, temperatures are now pegged at 26 – 31 degrees Celsius.

Haze is an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other dry particles obscure the clarity of the sky.

(Photo courtesy: newsinfo.inquirer.net)
(Photo courtesy: newsinfo.inquirer.net)