Overcast skies, rain likely in parts of Mindanao due to ITCZ

MANILA, Philippines — Provinces in the southern and eastern portions of Mindanao may experience cloudy skies with occasional rains in the next 24 hours due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), the state weather bureau said late afternoon Thursday.

According to the 5:00 p.m. weather update of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), towns in the Caraga, Davao region, and Soccsksargen will see effects of the prevailing ITCZ.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will have generally fair weather, except for isolated thunderstorms which can cause sudden rain showers and lightning strikes, especially by Friday afternoon and night, according to Pagasa.

“ITCZ ngayon ang ating weather system na nakaka-apekto sa bansa, lalong-lalo na dyan sa Southern Mindanao. So ito ‘yong pagsasalubong ng dalawang magkaibang hangin mula sa northern hemisphere at southern hemisphere,” weather specialist Joey Figuracion explained.

(ITCZ is currently the weather system affecting the country, especially there in Southern Mindanao.  So, this is the convergence of two different wind patterns from the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere.)

“Kaya naman asahan na magiging maulap na may kalat-kalat na pag-ulan at thunderstorms sa bahagi ng Caraga, Davao region, at Soccskargen.  Samantala, sa nalalabing bahagi ng ating bansa ay asahan na generally fair weather ang ating mararanasang panahon, maliban sa mga pulo-pulong pag-ulan,” he added.

(That’s why residents of Caraga, Davao Region, and Soccskargen should expect cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.  The remaining parts of the country can expect generally fair weather aside from occasional rains.)

Pagasa then said Metro Manila and Legazpi City may anticipate temperatures ranging from 26 to 33 degrees Celsius, while Cebu may feel around 25 to 32 degrees Celsius climate on Friday. Davao, on the other hand, may experience temperatures of 25 up to 33 degrees Celsius.

No gale warning has been raised in any part of the country,

Although sea conditions over the western seaboard of the country may vary during thunderstorms, Pagasa did not raise any gale warning. It even said sea conditions for the rest of the country will be slight to moderate.

KGA