No weather disturbance or tropical cyclone is existing within the Philippine Area of Responsibility. However, due to the prevailing weather systems, some areas will still experience rains today. The tail end of a cold front will affect the eastern section of Central and Southern Luzon while the northeast monsoon or amihan continues to affect Northern Luzon.

The tail end of a cold front is the extended part of a cold front. The cold front, on the other hand, is formed when the cold air mass dominates the warm air mass during convergence. Meanwhile, amihan is cold and dry air coming from Mainland China or Siberia.

Bicol Region, Aurora, Quezon and Samar will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms. Cordillera, Ilocos and Cagayan Valley will experience cloudy skies with light rains. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains while the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will have a generally fair weather aside from the possible isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Amihan continues to bring colder mornings, mostly in Northern Luzon. This morning, PAGASA recorded the lowest temperature in Baguio City at 11.2°C.

Gale warning is still up over the eastern seaboard of Luzon and Visayas, as well as the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon. Expect wind force of 52 to 63 kilometers per hour with wave height of 3.4 to 4.5 meters. With rough to very rough sea conditions, fishing boats and other small sea craft are not advised to venture out into the sea.

The tail-end of a cold front now affects Mindanao, bringing cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers, particularly over the regions of Northern Mindanao, CARAGA and Central Visayas, as well in the provinces of Leyte and Negros Occidental.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be experiencing fair weather conditions, apart from isolated light rains due to the prevailing northeast monsoon.

The remaining parts of Visayas and Mindanao can expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the following hours.

Meanwhile, State Meteorologist Buddy Javier says that although the satellite shows a cluster of clouds outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, it has a low chance of developing into a low pressure area.

THE JANUARY NIGHT SKY

On this first week of 2015, the northern hemisphere night sky is favored by the first meteor shower of the year.

The annual Quadrantid meteor shower has been active since January 1 and will last until January 7. Peaking on the first weekend of the year, between midnight and dawn of January 3 and 4, a rate of at least 40 meteors per hour can be seen, says Engr. Dario Dela Cruz, PAGASA Space Sciences and Astronomy Section Chief.

However, the almost fully illuminated moon hinders the display this year, making visibility a challenge to avid skywatchers, except for a very short window of peak activity.

The said meteor shower was named after the extinct 17th century constellation Quadrans Muralis or the Wall Quadrant.

2015 is here! Another year, another set of goals. But before we outline our plans for the new year, let us first familiarize ourselves with this month’s weather.

1) Rains won’t go away yet.

This month marks the start of another year but rainy days won’t end yet for some areas of the country. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier said the northeast monsoon or amihan and the tail end of a cold front will be dominant. Amihan is cold and dry air coming from Mainland China or Siberia, bringing light rains mostly over Northern and Central Luzon.

Meanwhile, the tail end of a cold front refers to the extended part of a cold front which is formed when the cold air mass dominates the warm air mass during a convergence. Javier added that at this time, Southern Luzon usually experiences cloudy skies, as well as light and moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms. However, the tail end of a cold front can recede or move, depending on the strength of amihan.

2) January’s not totally “bagyo-free”.

According to PAGASA, the average number of tropical cyclones that usually enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this month is 0 to 1. This means that there is still a chance for us to experience stormy weather even in the first month of the year.

Climatologically speaking, a cyclone that may enter the PAR could cross the archipelago or make landfall, particularly over the Visayas area. It is also possible for it to re-curve, moving away from the landmass. The surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan influences its movement.

3) The much awaited sweater-weather is here.

Amihan peaks this month, bringing colder weather mostly over Luzon. Minimum temperatures are usually recorded during this chilly part of the year. One of the significant amihan-related events happened on January 18, 1961 when Baguio City’s temperature dropped to 6.3 degrees Celsius.

The Philippines remains bagyo-free on the first Monday of 2015. Weather forecaster Glaiza Escullar says in an interview that no weather disturbance has been monitored inside or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Two weather systems remain to influence the country’s weather – the tail-end of a cold front in Eastern Visayas and the northeast monsoon prevailing in Luzon.

The tail-end of a cold front is the boundary between the northeasterlies and the easterlies. The convergence of the cold and dry air of the former and the warm and humid air of the latter generate cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers.

On the other hand, the northeast monsoon or amihan brings light rains over the regions of Cagayan Valley and Cordillera. Isolated rain showers can be experienced in Metro Manila and the remaining parts of Luzon. The rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, PAGASA has not issued any gale warnings today after releasing the final advisory yesterday due to the weakened northeast monsoon.

AMIHAN: THE COLDEST DAYS

According to PAGASA, the peak months of the northeast monsoon are January and February when the lowest temperatures during the season are recorded.

In history, the lowest temperature ever recorded in the Philippines was in Baguio City on January 18, 1961 with 6.3 degrees Celsius.

Metro Manila, which has three stations, recorded the lowest temperatures ranging from 14.5 to 14.9 degrees Celsius as shown below:

As of 1:00 AM today, the low pressure area (LPA) has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). This LPA was the former Seniang, the last tropical cyclone that entered the PAR last year. Meanwhile, two weather systems will affect the country today, including the tail end of a cold front and the northeast monsoon or amihan that prevails over Luzon.

Due to the gradual intensification of amihan, the tail end of a cold front slightly moved downward, bringing cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas. Amihan, characterized by cold and dry air coming from Mainland China or Siberia, will bring light rains over the Bicol Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, CALABARZON and MIMAROPA. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated light rains while the rest of the country will have generally fair weather aside from isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Sea travel is still risky in the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, and the Visayas, as well as the eastern, western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon. Wave height could reach up to 3.4 to 4.5 meters, with wind force ranging from 52 to 63 kilometers per hour.

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier said that this month, the average number of tropical cyclones that may enter PAR is 0 to 1. A cyclone normally moves towards Visayas but there will be an instance that it may also re-curve upward, away from the landmass.

Cold weather greeted the new year yesterday. Here are the 5 lowest temperatures recorded on the 1st day of 2015:

This morning, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jori Loiz shared that Baguio City’s temperature dropped to 11°C at 2:00 AM while 20.3°C was recorded at the PAGASA Science Garden in Quezon City.

As amihan peaks this month, the minimum temperatures and colder days are usually felt during this part of the year. However, aside from the chill, this weather system will also bring light rains over the affected areas.

Before 2014 officially ended last night, Seniang further weakened and became a low pressure area (LPA). At 4:00AM today, it was estimated at 210 kilometers south-southeast of Puerto Princesa City. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez, it is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tonight or tomorrow.

Aside from the LPA, the tail end of a cold front, which is formed when the cold air mass dominates the warm air, will affect the Bicol Region. Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or amihan, characterized by cold and dry air coming from Siberia or Mainland China, will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier explained that the LPA has weakened due to the effect of amihan or cold intrusion, which is not favorable for the intensification of a tropical cyclone.

As we welcome the first day of a brand new year, some parts of the archipelago will experience rains mostly over Southern Palawan, where the LPA may dump moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms. Bicol Region, the rest of MIMAROPA and the province of Quezon will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.

Cagayan Valley and Cordillera will experience light rains while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains. Improved weather will continue over Visayas and Mindanao, with possible isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Gale warning is still up over the seaboards of Northern, Central and Southern Luzon, and the seaboards of Visayas. These areas will experience rough to very rough sea conditions with wave height ranging from 3.4 to 4.5 meters. Sea travel is risky for fishing boats and other small seacraft.

PAGASA added that no other weather disturbance is being monitored outside the PAR. However, all are still advised to monitor updates from the weather bureau.

Rains will be concentrated over Eastern Visayas and the Bicol Region where cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms are expected. These rains are brought by the diffused tail end of a cold front, a weather system that occurs when the cold air mass dominates the warm air mass during convergence. Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or amihan continues to blow through Northern and Central Luzon.

Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will have cloudy skies with light rains, while the rest of Northern and Central Luzon will experience isolated light rains. Metro Manila and the rest of the country can look forward to generally fair weather with a chance of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

For sea travelers, gale warning is up over the seaboards of Northern and Southern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon. These areas will experience rough to very rough sea conditions due to the surge of amihan. Coastal waters in the rest of the country will be moderate to rough.

Amihan peaks in January

Amihan, characterized as cold and dry air blowing from mainland China or Siberia, began to affect the Philippines last October 16, 2014. However, during the ber months, it’s still not completely felt all over the country. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jori Loiz, this wind system will peak on January wherein the ocean has lower thermal capacity, which means it cannot absorb much heat. Minimum temperatures are usually recorded during this month.

PAGASA monitored three weather systems affecting the country today. The northeast monsoon or amihan is affecting Northern Luzon while the tail end of a cold front is affecting Eastern Visayas. Meanwhile, the trough of low pressure area (LPA) is still affecting Southern Luzon.

According to PAGASA weather forecaster Alvin Pura, only the trough or the extension of LPA is affecting the said area, but the LPA alone is outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and has a slim chance of entering the boundary.

Today, the Bicol Region, Visayas and Mindanano will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Light rains will be experienced in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos Region.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have fair weather conditions. Isolated rains are still expected in the afternoon or evening.

Lowest Temperature in Quezon City

Throughout the amihan season, Quezon City has recorded its lowest temperature today. As of 5 AM, temperature dropped to 20.8 degree Celsius.

Pura said that an even lower temperature might be experienced in the next coming days.

The northeast monsoon or amihan, characterized as cold and dry air coming from Mainland China, continues to prevail over Northern Luzon. The tail end of a cold front will also prevail over Central and Southern Luzon. This weather system occurs when the cold air dominates the warm air mass during convergence.

Meanwhile, the trough or the extended cloudiness of a low pressure area (LPA) will affect Mindanao. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jun Galang said that as the LPA moves in a westward direction, there is a slim chance for it to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).Continuous monitoring will be done since the clouds of the said LPA are already disorganized.

This Wednesday, rainfall will be concentrated over Metro Manila, Rizal, Aurora, Quezon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao. These areas will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. The regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos will be cloudy with light rains while the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Strong winds associated with the surge of amihan will bring rough to very rough sea conditions over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon, western seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon. Sea travel is risky over Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, the northern coast of Cagayan. Ilocos, La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Zambales, Isabela, and the eastern coasts of Cagayan and Aurora.

Simbang Gabi Forecast

“Simbang Gabi” or “Misa de Gallo” began yesterday, the 16th of December. Here’s a special weather forecast for those who are going to attend the anticipated mass this evening.