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.

The tail end of a cold front is now affecting the eastern section of Northern Luzon. This is the boundary where cold and warm air meets, resulting to precipitation. In effect, Cagayan Valley will have cloudy skies with the possibility of light to moderate rain showers.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila, Ilocos, Cordillera and Central Luzon will have isolated light rains.

Good weather condition is expected over the rest of the country, aside from the possible occurrence of drizzle.

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza said there is an LPA (low pressure area) outside PH boundary. This will have no direct effect on PH weather but its cloudiness is extending over Mindanao area.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is being observed today, February 18, 2015, which marks the Lenten season.

Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church. Ash Wednesday is part of the Catholic preparation for Christ’s Resurrection on Eastern Sunday. This is the season of penance, reflection and fasting.

The tail end of a cold front, a weather system formed when the cold air mass dominates the warm air mass, will affect the eastern section of Luzon today. Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Bicol Region, and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

At 2:00 AM today, the low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) was estimated at more than 2,000 kilometers east of Southern Mindanao. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Manny Mendoza said it is still far to affect any part of the country. However, it has a possibility to enter the boundary on Sunday, February 15. Changes may still occur so everyone is advised to monitor updates.

Meanwhile, according to Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran, the inflow of the northeast monsoon or amihan was slightly deflected due to the eastward movement of the high pressure area. It is expected to re-intensify this weekend bringing back colder nights and early mornings.

Below are the lowest temperatures recorded by the weather bureau this morning:

PAGASA to lead National Astronomy Week

By virtue of Proclamation No.130, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) spearheads the annual celebration of the National Astronomy Week every third week of February. This year, it will be held on February 16 to 20, 2015 with the theme: ” Reaching Our People: Transferring Knowledge in Astronomy”.

In line with this, different activities were prepared for the celebration, including free planetarium shows, stargazing and telescoping sessions, the Star Party Contest for high school students, seminar/workshop on astronomy for public Science teachers in Laoag City, free mobile planetarium shows, and the giving away of free posters in astronomy.

For those interested, contact 434-2715, 929-1237 or 927-5509 for reservations.

The tropical cyclone with international name “Higos: is now in typhoon category. Packing winds of 120 kph and gustiness of up to 150 kph, it slowly moves in a northwest direction.

State Meteorologist Manny Mendoza assures the public that Higos has a very slim chance of entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Today, the northeast monsoon continues to prevail over Luzon, bringing cloudy skies and light rains over the regions of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos and Bicol as well as the provinces of Aurora and Quezon.

The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will have isolated light rains. Visayas and Mindanao, on the other hand, will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the following hours.

Meanwhile, strong to gale force winds associated with the surge of the northeast monsoon brings rough to very rough sea conditions over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon. Fishermen are advised against sea travel in these coasts today.

WEATHER 101

Temperature and relative humidity are always included in PAGASA’s weather forecast. How does it affect our daily living?

Let’s start by defining these terms. Temperature is the degree of how hot or cold the atmosphere. Meanwhile, relative humidity is the amount of atmospheric moisture or water vapor the air can hold at a particular temperature.

Mendoza explains if we have higher temperature and lower relative humidity, it means we are having warm and humid weather. This is usually associated with the easterlies or the winds coming from the Pacific Ocean. On the other hand, if we have lower temperatures and higher relative humidity, it results to cold and dry air –also experienced same as during the northeast monsoon season.

The northeast monsoon continues to affect Luzon and Eastern Visayas. This cold and dry air will bring mostly partly cloudy skies with light rains in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Ilocos, Bicol and Eastern Visayas and in the provinces of Aurora and Quezon, while Metro Manila will have fair weather conditions aside from drizzling.

Good weather will prevail in the rest of Visayas and Mindanao.

Due to the surge of the northeast monsoon, gale warning is up over the seaboards of Northern Luzon. This includes Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Cagayan, Ilocos provinces, La Union, Pangsinan and Isabela. Seaboards mentioned will have rough to very rough sea conditions caused by wind speeds of 52 to 63 kilometers per hour.

Wave height may reach 4.5 meters. Fisherfolk and other small sea vessels are advised against big waves.

February: Good morning to colder weather!

According to PAGASA, the northeast monsoon, locally known as amihan, is at its peak during this month. Aside from light rains, colder mornings will be more common.

Yesterday, most parts of Luzonexperienced lower temperatures, which are expected to drop in the coming days.

As of 2 AM today, temperatures in some areas of Luzon has slightly increased compared to yesterday’s record.

Northeast monsoon affecting Luzon will bring cloudy skies with light rains over Cagayan Valley, Bicol, CALABARZON and even provinces of Aurora, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Quezon.

The rest of Luzon including Metro Manila will most likely to have sunny weather but expect partly cloudy skies with isolated light rains due to northeast monsoon.

Visayas and Mindanao may continue to enjoy the good weather condition.

PAGASA weather forecaster Jun Galang said we might look forward to fair weather condition until January ends. The state weather bureau is not expecting any weather disturbances till the last day of the month.

February Is Panagbenga

Galang confirmed of good weather condition for the month of February at Baguio City.

The city of Pines has small chances of experiencing rains, according to climatological data of PAGASA, rain days for Baguio City only accounts to three.

Temperature will make Panagbenga Festival more enjoyable. Based on the forecast temperature, Baguio City will still have cold weather and lower temperature.

The Philippines is forecast to remain bagyo-free in the remaining days of January. However, two weather systems will still prevail in the country – the Tail-end of a Cold Front affecting Eastern Visayas and the Northeast Monsoon ub Luzon.

Based on PAGASA’s latest weather forecast, Eastern Visayas and CARAGA will continue to experience light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms. Luzon, including Metro Manila, will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated cases of light rains. The rest of Visayas and Mindanao, on the other hand, can expect fair weather conditions today.

The weather bureau also released the final gale warning as the surge of the Northeast Monsoon weakened. Sea condition will be moderate to rough.

Meanwhile, PAGASA recorded 18.1°C in Metro Manila today, January 76, 2015. So far, this is the lowest temperature listed in the said area during the current Amihan Season. State meteorologist Buddy Javier says lower temperatures are still possible in the following days or weeks as we are still in the peak months of the Northeast Monsoon.

Philippu

No weather disturbance is monitored inside or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility on the remaining days of January, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Glaiza Escullar claimed.

However, it’s best for residents of Eastern Visayas and CARAGA to bring umbrellas today as the Tail-end of a Cold Front brings cloudy skies and light to moderate rains in the said regions.

The whole Luzon, including Metro Manila, will have partly cloudy to at times, cloudy skies with isolated cases of light rains generated by the Northeast Monsoon or amihan.

The remaining parts of Visayas and Mindanao, on the other hand, can expect fair weather condition apart from localized thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, the surge of the Northeast Monsoon generates rough to very rough sea conditions over the eastern seaboards of Visayas and of CARAGA region, prompting PAGASA to release a new gale warning, advising fishermen not to venture out into the sea due to strong winds and big waves.

BAGUIO CITY AT ITS COOLEST

On January 24, 2015, PAGASA recorded Baguio City’s lowest temperature of 10.4’°C during the current Amihan season. Is it possible to have a lower temperature than that? Escullar says yes. The climatological low in Baguio is usually recorded during the last half of January up until mid-February. With the northeast monsoon peak during these months, Baguio City will continue to have cool temperatures and the possibility of further drops in temperature in the following days or weeks.

WEATHER IN FEBRUARY: A SYNOPSIS

Climatological records of the weather bureau shows an average of 0 – 1 tropical cyclones, apart from the Tail-end of a Cold Front and the Northeast Monsoon as the dominant weather systems prevailing in the country during this month.

The Tail-end of a Cold Front is the convergence of two different air masses–cold and dry air coming from Siberia called amihan, and warm, humid air from the Pacific Ocean called the Easterlies. This convergence brings light to moderate rains and possible thunderstorms over the affected areas.

Amihan brings lower temperatures and light rains usually in the northern and eastern sections of the country. It starts mid-October to late March, peaking on the months of January to February.

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.