Pagasa: Expect some relief from hot weather this weekend

Some parts of the country could get some respite from the soaring temperatures over the weekend, as isolated rain showers are expected, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Friday.

However, Pagasa weather forecaster Joey Figuracion said that since these types of thunderstorms were microscale weather systems, it is hard to predict with accuracy when and where the said rains would fall.

Thunderstorms

Figuracion explained that thunderstorms are due to the extremely hot day temperatures, which cause rapid rates of evaporation.

“Because it is hot from morning to noon, whatever moisture is in the surroundings evaporates quickly. The evaporation causes bigger clouds, and this is the reason for these isolated thunderstorms,” he said.

Figuracion also said that easterlies, or the air stream coming from the Pacific, is affecting the country. Easterlies are generally humid, the weather monitoring bureau said.

Rains from isolated thunderstorms are expected to last a maximum of two hours only, Figuracion said, adding that as April goes on, there would be more such rain showers, as the country transitions from northwest monsoon or amihan, to southwest monsoon, or habagat.