PAGASA has yet to declare the start of the Hot and Dry Season but the heat has become increasingly intense in some parts of the country.
Yesterday, PAGASA recorded a scorching 36°C in Cabanatuan.
Today, a maximum of 34°C air temperature is expected in Metro Manila. For Baguio City, it will be between 16-26°C, 26-32°C in Iloilo and a maximum of 34°C in Zamboanga City.
While temperatures are expected to spike, the Northeast Monsoon in the Northern Luzon is still bringing cloudy skies with isolated light rains in Cagayan Valley Region. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will be experienced in the regions of Cordillera and Ilocos. Caused by the warm and humid air from the Pacific called Easterlies, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of the archipelago.
Despite the warm temperatures, gale warning is hoisted in the seaboards of Northern Luzon where sea travel may be risky due to rough to very rough sea conditions.
The Hot and Dry season may be around the corner but this doesn’t exempt the county from weather disturbances.
At 2:00 AM today, a Low Pressure Area (LPA) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong, the LPA was located at 800 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur at 4:00 AM. The LPA has yet to have any direct effect on the country but its extension will bring light to moderate rains in the Caraga Region today.
“Sa ngayon, within 24-48 hours hindi po natin ito inaasahan na magiging bagyo. Ibig sabihin hindi po favorable ‘yung environment. ‘Yun nga lang, lalapit po ito sa ating bansa at dadaan po sa Kabisayaan.” (We do not expect this to develop into a tropical cyclone within the next 24-48 hours due to the unfavorable environment. However, it will approach the landmass and will cross Visayas.)
Starting tomorrow, March 20, this weather system will bring cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Northern Mindanao. Residents in these areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
Meanwhile, theNortheast Monsoon is still dominant in Luzon where it will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains. For Visayas and the rest of Mindanao, partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms today.
Did you savor the cold days of February? We hope you did, because humid days are just around the corner.
The Hot and Dry season is in the country the equivalent of summer. The warm weather is brought by the Easterlies and the Ridge of a High Pressure Area. Easterlies are winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, the largest of the oceanic divisions in the world. On the other hand, a ridge or the extended part of a High Paessure Area (HPA) is associated with good weather. Unlike a Low Pressure Area (LPA), fewer clouds are formed with less chance of precipitation in a HPA.
In an interview with PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza, he said that the termination of Amihan usually marks the beginning of “tag-init.”
“Simula noong 2012 hanggang 2016, ay naganap ang pagtatapos ng Amihan sa pagitan ng pangalawa at pangatlong linggo ng Marso. Kaya’t inaasahan natin na posibleng kaparehas na panahon maganap ang pagpasok ng tag-init.” (Since 2012 until 2016, Amihan had ended between the second and third week of March. We expect the Hot and Dry season to begin within the same period.)
WEATHER TODAY
Today, Northern and Central Luzon remains affected by the Northeast Monsoon, while Easterlies are dominant in the eastern sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Cloudy skies with light rains are expected in Cagayan Valley. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms are expected in Bicol Region, Visayas and Mindanao. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
There’s no gale warning today but seafarers and those who have small fishing boats are still advised to take precautionary measures against moderate to rough sea conditions.
We welcome colder nights and mornings as the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan affects the entire country.
Amihan refers to cold and dry air from Mainland China where winter is in progress. In an interview with Panahon TV, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza said that this weather system usually peaks between January and February; hence the 9.2 degrees Celsius recorded in Baguio City yesterday, the city’s lowest temperature this 2017.
Aside from the cold weather, the Amihan also brings rains. Today, cloudy skies with chances of lights rains will prevail in the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Davao and the provinces of Aurora, Quezon and Rizal.
Meanwhile, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of the country.
Due to strong winds caused by the Northeast Monsoon, gale warning remains in the northern seaboards of Northern Luzon and Visayas, as well as in the western seaboards of Luzon.
Mendoza added that there is no weather disturbance expected to affect the country in the next two to three days. Catch the replay of the interview in this video:
Did you shiver with today’s cold weather? This is brought about by the Northeast Monsoon, locally known as Hanging Amihan affecting Northern and Central Luzon.
Amihan refers to cold and dry air coming from Mainland China. It affects the Philippines between November and February where temperatures usually dip. Here are the lowest temperatures recorded yesterday:
Apart from this weather system, a Low Pressure Area (LPA), formerly known as Tropical Depression Bising, remains within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). At 10:00 AM today, the Low Pressure Area was estimated at 660 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar.
As Amihan prevails, cloudy skies with light rains are expected in the regions of Cagayan Valley and Cordillera, and in the provinces of Aurora and Quezon. In Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will prevail. In Visayas and Mindanao, generally fair weather will be experienced, only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Gale warning remains in effect in the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, as well as the eastern seaboards of Visayas. Fishing boats and other small seacraft should not venture out due to rough to very rough seas, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.
After bringing rains in Bicol Region, portions of Visayas and Mindanao, Tropical Depression Bising has weakened into a Low Pressure Area (LPA).
At 4:00 AM today, the LPA was estimated at 725 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon. In the next hours it will still bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms in Eastern Visayas, Caraga and the province of Palawan.
Meanwhile, the Northeast Monsoon in Northern and Central Luzon will cause cloudy skies with light rains in Cagayan Valley. In Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will prevail. Generally fair weather will be experienced in the rest of Visayas and Mindanao only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
PAGASA earlier explained that Bising recurved due to the strong wind shear near the Philippines, pushing tropical cyclones away from the landmass.
Strong to gale force winds associated with the surge of the Northeast Monsoon are also bringing rough to very rough seas in these provinces:
Tropical Depression “Bising” is still inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), but is not expected to hit any part of the landmass. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza, this tropical cyclone is expected to dissipate within the next 24-48 hours. However, it will bring rains in most parts of the country.
At 10 AM today, Bising has weakened and was estimated at 595 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar. With maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph, it is forecast to move north-northeast at 10kph.
Mendoza enumerated the factors that affect the tropical cyclone’s dissipation in the video below:
Along with Bising, the Northeast Monsoon or Hanging Amihan prevails in Northern Luzon. Light rains are expected in the provinces of Ilocos, Cagayan and Batanes. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will prevail in Metro Manila and the regions of Central Luzon, Cordillera, the rest of Ilocos and Cagayan Valley. Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced in the Eastern Visayas and Caraga Region. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Gale force winds affect some areas in the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon and the Visayas, as well as the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.
Tropical Depression “Bising” is not expected to hit any part of the Philippine landmass; however, rains will still be experienced in most parts of the country.
At 4 AM today, Bising was estimated at 410 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. With maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph, it is forecast to move north-northwest at 11 kph.
In an interview with PanahonTV, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza said this tropical cyclone is expected to recurve and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in the next days without hitting any part of the country.
“Ito’y nagre-recurve o hindi tatama dito sa ating kalupaan dahil sa malakas na wind shear na malapit dito sa Pilipinas. Ito yung malakas na hangin na nagtutulak papalayo sa ating Bagyong Bising kaya hindi nga ito makaka-landfall sa ating kalupaan.” (It recurved due to the strong wind shear near the Philippines. These winds are pushing Tropical Depression Bising away from the landmass.)
No storm signals were raised, but moderate to occasionally heavy rains are expected within the 300-kilometer diameter of the tropical cyclone.
Aside from Bising, the Northeast Monsoon is also dominant in the Philippine Area of Responsibility, affecting Luzon. Today, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced in Visayas, Mindanao, Bicol Region, and the province of Quezon. Cloudy skies with light rains are also expected in the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Central Luzon. In Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains will prevail.
The Northeast Monsoon, enhanced by Bising, is also causing strong to gale force winds in the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.
The first weekend of February this year will be rainy, brought about by the month’s first cyclone, Tropical Depression Bising. As of 5 AM today, it was spotted at 560 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. Garnering maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 55 kph, it is expected to move west-northwest at 13 kph.
In an interview with Panahon TV, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Lori dela Cruz said Bising has a slim chance of hitting the land and instead, may re-curve away from the country. Based on the climatological records of the weather bureau, a cyclone that enters the Philippine premises during this month usually has a slim chance of making landfall.
Along with Bising, the Northeast Monsoon or Hanging Amihan prevails in Luzon. No tropical cyclone warning signal was issued today, but rains are more likely to affect several parts of the archipelago. Residents of Visayas, Mindanao, Bicol Region and the province of Quezon are advised to prepare for cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, cloudy skies with light rains will be experienced in the Cagayan Valley Region and the province of Aurora. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will prevail in Metro Manila, the regions of Ilocos and Cordillera, and the rest of Central Luzon. The rest of the country will have generally fair weather condition with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Just like the Southwest Monsoon or Hanging Habagat, Amihan can also be enhanced by a tropical cyclone that can boost stronger winds and higher waves. As a result, rough to very rough seas may be experienced in the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
These include the Camarines provinces, Catanduanes, the eastern coasts of Albay, Sorsogon and Quezon including Polillo Island, the coasts of Northern & Eastern Samar, and the eastern coasta of Leyte, Surigao, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Island and Siargao. Wave height could reach up to 4.5 meters, making it risky for fishing boats and other small seacraft to venture out into the sea.
