More rain seen on Christmas
MANILA—Even as they reel from the aftermath of Storm Sendong, residents of Mindanao and the Visayas should brace for widespread rain that could trigger flash floods and landslides on Christmas Day, weather forecasters warned yesterday.
Luzon would also experience monsoon rains that could endanger Bicol Region on or before Christmas, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
There is no typhoon on the horizon in the next four days, forecaster said.
As the tail-end of the cold front moves southward, the Visayas and Mindanao would experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, said Robert Sawi, chief of Pagasa’s weather division.
The rain and thunderstorms would become widespread over the eastern section, which might cause floods and landslides in eastern Mindanao on Dec. 25, he said.
“Our countrymen there should prepare because flashfloods might occur during the weekend,” he said at a press conference.
Sendong cut a wide swath of destruction in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, prompting President Aquino to declare a national state of calamity.
A surge in the southeast monsoon would bring light rain over western and eastern Luzon from Dec. 21 to Dec. 26, Sawi said.
This would become frequent over the Bicol Region, and could cause floods and mountain slopes to collapse on Dec. 24 and 25, he said.
The weather bureau cautioned fishermen on the coasts of the Visayas and Mindanao against setting out to sea because of big waves.
The northeast monsoon now sweeping Luzon with cold and dry air from Siberia and the tail-end of the cold front will dominate in the next four days. Inquirer
