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MANILA, Philippines – A fair weather for the first week of 2020 is expected as the temperature in the northern parts of the country gradually drops due to the northeast monsoon or Amihan, the state weather bureau said Tuesday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its afternoon forecast that no low pressure areas (LPAs) or storms will enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), as easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean prevail.
“Sa kasalukuyan, umiiral at nakaka-apekto po itong ating hanging Amihan o northeast monsoon sa dulong hilagang bahagi ng Luzon, samantalang ‘yong mainit, maalinsangang namang easterlies mula sa dagat Pasipiko ay nakaka-apekto naman sa ibang bahagi ng ating bansa,” weather specialist Ariel Rojas said.
(Northeast monsoon is affecting parts of Luzon, easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean continue to prevail.)
“Good news po, dahil sa unang pitong araw ng 2020, wala naman tayong nakikitang sama ng panahon na posibleng mabuo o pumasok sa loob ng Philippine area of responsibility,” Rojas added.
(For the first seven days of 2020, we do not see any weather disturbance that may enter the PAR.)
The northeast monsoon is also expected to heighten cold weather downwards to the Central Luzon and Metro Manila.
Temperatures in Baguio City, the country’s summer capital, may reach as low as 13 degrees Celsius on Thursday, and 12 degrees on Friday.
However, due to the convergence of the monsoon winds and the easterlies, a cold front may ensue — which will bring rains to the eastern part of the country.
Areas in Cagayan Valley, northern Quezon, plus the provinces of Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Aurora will experience cloudy skies with occasional light rain showers and thunderstorms.
The rest of Luzon will have a fair weather, as with Visayas provinces, although localized thunderstorms like the one that occurred in various cities in Metro Manila on Tuesday noon may take place.
No gale warning has been raised although the northern and eastern seaboards of the country may experience moderate to rough sea conditions, with waves reaching up to 3.4 meters.