Generally fair weather prevails today. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will affect the archipelago only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening as Easterlies, or warm and humid air from the Pacific Ocean, dominates.

Perez said, warm and humid weather is still expected today and heat index can soar up to 39.6 degrees Celsius.

If this good weather continues, we can enjoy various festivals this month.

In the Philippines, each city or municipality has a local festival of its own. The celebration includes the feast of the town’s patron saint, as well as an abundance of local products. Some of the festivals celebrated in May are the Bawang Festival of Ilocos province, the Hundred Islands Festival in Pangasinan, the Pahiyas Festival in Quezon, and the Flores de Mayo in almost every town.

Photo from PanahonTV Live Producer Paul Michael Caisip

If you think the rains yesterday was a random occurrence, think again. Expect thunderstorm formation later and more rains as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) remains situated across the Visayas.

The axis of the ITCZ is where two different winds converge, bringing cloudy skies and precipitation. It is also known to be the breeding ground of Low Pressure Areas and possible tropical cyclones.

Based on PAGASA’s latest weather forecast, this weather system will bring cloudy skies with rain showers and thunderstorms over the Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Visayas and Mindanao. The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will still experience isolated thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Despite the looming rainy weather condition, the archipelago’s coastal waters remains slight to moderate.

Meanwhile, commuters were stranded due to heavy rains and flooding experienced in Metro Manila yesterday in the late afternoon.

The top three highest rainfall amount recorded are as follows:

State Meteorologist Jori Loiz said that evidently, Metro Manila experienced a high amount of rains, encompassing a big berth of area in the metro.

Everyone is advised to bring umbrellas and to monitor weather updates as we expect another rainy day today.

In other news, today is the beginning of the Ramadan.

Aside from the weak northeast monsoon or hanging amihan, the wind convergence also prevails, bringing light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms over Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostella Valley. Converging winds include the northeasterly winds and the easterlies. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Though clouds are forming outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza said no weather disturbance is expected to affect the country within the next 2 to 3 days. However, all are still advised to monitor updates from the weather bureau.

On the other hand, temperatures continue to rise as we head towards the official hot and dry season. Here are the highest temperatures recorded in specific areas in the Philippines:

According to Mendoza, temperatures as high as these are just normal during the first week of March. The chance of El Nino phenomenon is still being monitored, but studies show that the probability will decrease in the upcoming months.

For today, Metro Manila will have 20-33 degrees Celsius while Metro Cebu will experience 24-32 degrees Celsius. Metro Davao can expect a bit higher temperature range of 24-33 degrees Celsius.

Application for CLSU presidency closes today

The weak northeast monsoon affects eastern Visayas today.

Based on PAGASA’s latest weather forecast, Eastern Visayas, Davao region and CARAGA will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon can expect, at times, cloudy skies and isolated light rains.

On the other hand, the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will enjoy fair weather, apart from isolated cases of rains or thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza shares that the expected monthly rainfall and average temperature in the Philippines this month will be below normal to normal range, particularly in the eastern sections of the country.

Temperatures in the mountainous areas of Luzon will still be slightly cooler, while the lowland areas can expect near normal temperatures, he added.

Visayas will have slightly warmer weather as Mindanao can expect near normal temperatures this March.

No weather disturbance is expected to threaten the Philippines within the next three days.

Today, the weak northeast monsoon brings, at times cloudy skies and isolated light rains, over the islands of Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan.

The remaining parts of the country, including Metro Manila, will have a fair weather apart from localized thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, March 20 marks the beginning of Spring in the Northern hemisphere with the vernal equinox.

The word “equinox” translates to “equal night”, wherein the Sun crosses directly over the Earth’s equator making the day and night almost equal in length all over the globe.

As the people in the north welcomes Spring, those below the equator, will experience lowering of temperatures as the autumnal equinox sets in.

This astronomical phenomenon occurs in the northern hemisphere every year –the vernal equinox around March 20 or 21 and the autumnal equinox during September 22 or 23. People south of the equator also experience the same in opposite dates.

No weather disturbance is being monitored within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). However, due to the tail end of a cold front affecting the eastern section of Southern Luzon and the northeast monsoon prevailing over Northern and Central Luzon, some parts of the country will still experience rains.

The tail end of a cold front is a weather system formed when the cold air mass dominates the warm air mass during wind convergence. It will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms over the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and Quezon province.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon, locally known as the amihan, will bring light rains over Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, the province of Aurora, Ilocos Region and the rest of Central Luzon. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Due to the surge of the amihan, gale warning is still up over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon and the Visayas. These include Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, the northern coasts of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte, Isabela, the eastern coast of Cagayan, and the provinces of Aurora and Camarines. Catanduanes, the eastern coasts of Albay, Sorsogon and Quezon, Polilio Island, Samar and Leyte. Sea travel is risky for fishing boats and other small seacraft.

Since the peak of the amihan has already ended, here’s a comparison of the lowest temperatures recorded during the last year’s and this year’s peak:

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran explained that recorded temperatures this year are slightly higher compared to 2014 due to the effect of the polar vortex which prevailed during the northern hemisphere’s winter season. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a polar vortex is a semi-permanent upper level circulation that normally resides near the north and south poles.

On the other hand, a cloud cluster was spotted outside the PAR but PAGASA Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that it has a slim chance of affecting the country within the next three days. All are still advised to monitor updates from the weather bureau.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has been monitoring a low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). Weather Forecaster Jun Galang says it has a slim chance of entering the boundary so it will not have any effect in the archipelago in the next two to three days.

Most parts of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. The tail end of a cold front, however, will affect the eastern section of Central Luzon, bringing cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms over the provinces of Aurora and Quezon.

Galang added that the amihan still prevails in the country, but this time it will just reach the northern part of Luzon. With this, gale warning is up over the seaboards of Northern Luzon due to the rough to very rough sea conditions. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are prohibited to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.

Meanwhile, here are the lowest temperatures recorded yesterday:

PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jori Loiz confirmed that the peak of the amihan has already ended. Thus, temperatures will gradually rise in the coming days as the amihan continues to weaken. Loiz also clarified that we may be experiencing the warm weather but PAGASA has yet to declare the official hot & dry season.

There are certain factors to consider before PAGASA declares the official onset of “tag-init” in the Philippines. These include the consecutive increase in temperature, the termination of the northeast monsoon, and the presence of the easterlies.

Kung Hei Fat Choi: MPD issues traffic advisory

In line with the celebration of the Chinese New Year, the Manila Police District issued a traffic advisory. A float parade will be conducted today, February 19, 2015, at 2:00 PM. This parade will be traversing the following route:

– start at Juan Luna (Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz)
– left to Plaza Cervantes
– right to Quintin Paredes
– left to Sta.Cruz Church
– right to Ronquillo
– left to Ongpin
– left to Sabino Padilla
– right to Quintin Paredes
– right to Ongpin
– left to Sabino Padilla
– left to Soler
– left to Reina Regente
– end point at Reina Regente (Lucky Chinatown)

Heavy traffic is expected within the Binondo area so motorists are advised to take the following alternative routes: McArthur Bridge, Quezon Bridge and CM.Recto Avenue.

Know more about the celebration of the Chinese New 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.

A low pressure area (LPA) is being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), below the Philippines.

State Meteorologist Jori Loiz said the good news is, it is not expected to enter PAR and has a possibility of dissipating. However, its trough, or the extension of the LPA, affects Mindanao today.

In PAGASA’s latest weather forecast, Mindanao will experience light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

At the same time, the northeast monsoon returns to affect extreme Northern Luzon, bringing cloudy skies and light rains over the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos.

The remaining parts of the country, including Metro Manila, will be partly cloudy to cloudy, bearing fair weather conditions.

Meanwhile, temperatures are not as cool as the past few weeks. Loiz says although the northeast winds still affect the country, it will slowly wind down in the following weeks. Its influence on the country’s weather usually lasts up to late March. In 2014, PAGASA officially declared the termination of the Amihan Season on March 26.

WEATHER CONDITION: RAINY OR FAIR?

Today, Panahon TV delivered a trivia on how to determine if it will rain in the next few hours by the type of clouds seen in the skies. Loiz, in today’s interview, shares which clouds also herald fair weather conditions. See the video here: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=863142510396255&set=vb.441729975870846&type=2&theater