Storm-free start for August

After a week of consecutive weather disturbances, the country welcomes August storm-free.

According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza, Tropical Storm Huaning is now outside the Philippine Areas of Responsibility (PAR). After making landfall in mainland China, it has weakened into a Low Pressure Area.

However, a tropical cyclone outside PAR continues to enhance the Southwest Monsoon. At 4:00 AM, Typhoon Noru was at 1,760 kilometers east-northeast of Basco, Batanes. It has maximum winds of 170 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 210 kph. It is not expected to enter PAR but is causing the Southwest Monsoon to affect the western section of Northern and Central Luzon.

Today, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced in the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera and the provinces of Zambales and Bataan. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

As Habagat prevails, a gale warning is in effect in the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon including Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, and the northern coasts of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte.

AUGUST OVERVIEW: 2-4 Tropical Cyclones Ahead

This month, weather systems associated with rainy weather will still prevail. These include:
Intertropical Convergence Zone – refers to an area in the atmosphere where clouds are formed from the convergence of winds coming the northern and southern hemispheres. It can be a breeding ground of weather disturbances.

Low Pressure Area – an area in the atmosphere with a lower atmospheric pressure than its surroundings. Low pressure areas could usually develop into a tropical cyclone.

Tropical Cyclone – The general term for a cyclone or bagyo, this weather disturbance is classified into four depending on its maximum sustained winds: tropical depression, tropical storm, typhoon and super typhoon.

Southwest Monsoon – characterized by warm and moist air, the southwest monsoon or Habagat speeds up cloud formation. Once enhanced by a tropical cyclone, the Habagat can bring heavy downpour, which may cause floods in the western section of the country.

Ridge of High Pressure Area – an extended part of an anti-cyclone that suppresses cloud formation, causing lesser chance of rains or fair weather condition.

Localized Thunderstorms – During warm days, heat speeds up evaporation and creates more clouds, which may dump moderate to heavy rains. Thunderstorms usually occur in the afternoon or evening, and last for one to two hours.

Two to four tropical cyclones are expected to develop within or enter PAR, which can hit or miss the country’s landmass.

Two weather systems are still bringing rains in the country today.

These include the Tail-End of a Cold Front in the eastern section of Mindanao, and the Northeast Monsoon prevailing in Luzon and Visayas.

Today, cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms will be experienced in the regions of Caraga and Davao. Residents of these areas are alerted against flash floods and landslides.

Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected in the rest of Mindanao.

In Luzon and Eastern Visayas, cloudy skies with light rains will prevail, while moderate rains are expected in Cagayan Valley and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon.

Meanwhile, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains are expected in the rest of Visayas.

In an interview with PanahonTV, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Loriedin de la Cruz said that no weather disturbance is expected to affect the country in the next three days. However changes may still transpire, so stay tuned for updates.

Gale force winds are affecting more areas in the country as the Amihan intensifies. Due to rough to very rough seas, small seacraft and fishing boats are not advised to venture out, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.