ITCZ soaks parts of Mindanao

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) continues to affect Southern Mindanao.

ITCZ is characterized as an area where winds coming from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet; this interaction results to rains in the affected areas.

As this weather system prevails, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced in Mindanao today. Rains have been affecting the region since last week, prompting the cancellation of classes and declaration of State of Calamity in Kabuntalan and other areas in Maguindanao due to widespread flooding.

Light to moderate rains will also affect the regions of Central Visayas and Negros Island. In the rest of the country including Metro Manila, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

(UPDATED AS OF 11:00 AM) The Low Pressure Area (LPA) and Tail-End of a Cold Front dumped almost a month’s volume of rain in one day in some provinces earlier this week.

In an interview with Panahon TV, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong said that the biggest amount of rainfall was recorded in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte on Monday, January 16, 2017. Rain amounted to 209.7 millimeters of rain, almost double the average of rainfall expected in a month.

In Misamis Oriental, 72.4 millimeters of rain were recorded in the 24-hour monitoring. This period almost surpassed the station’s total average rainfall for January, which is 98.9 millimeters. Widespread rains in the province caused flooding in Cagayan de Oro, forcing local officials to declare a state of calamity.

photos courtesy of John Ian Udang and Rowena Ambit

Two days after the flood, rains are still likely to prevail in some parts of Mindanao.

The Tail-End of a Cold Front continues to affect Visayas and the eastern section of Mindanao, while the Northeast Monsoon remains dominant in Luzon.

This midweek, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced in Visayas, Mindanao at Palawan.

Light rains will be experienced in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and the province of Aurora, while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.