Intensified southwest monsoon to dump rain over S. Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao

From the website of Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — It’s going to be a rainy Monday night for Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as various weather systems intensify the southwest monsoon or habagat.

According to weather updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Monday afternoon, two low-pressure areas (LPAs) within the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) have been affecting the southwest monsoon’s wind flow.

The state weather bureau said rain occurrence in Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao is likely to continue up to Tuesday.

The LPA over the country’s eastern seas was last spotted 600 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon, said Pagasa, however adding that this may eventually dissipate over time. But the other LPA, located 515 kilometers west of Coron, Palawan, is bringing in thick cloud bands which, along with the habagat, causes rains and thunderstorms.

State meteorologists said the LPA at the western side has a high chance of developing into a tropical depression, but they believe it may occur by the time it leaves the PAR.

Pagasa is also monitoring another weather disturbance: Tropical Storm Chan-Hom, which is still outside PAR.  While it is expected to enter the country’s jurisdiction in the coming hours, it may only graze the top right border of the PAR, hence would have no direct effect on the country except to pull the monsoon winds across the archipelago.

Because of these systems, rains are seen to occur over Palawan and Bicol Region, which will register slightly lower temperatures of 25 to 31 degrees Celsius, compared to Metro Manila’s 25 to 32 degrees Celsius, and Tuguegarao’s 33 to 24 degrees Celsius.

Rain may also persist over Visayas and Mindanao, although Cebu, Iloilo, Tacloban, and Davao may register temperatures around 25 to 32 degrees Celsius, while Zamboanga may see something between 24 to 31 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, a gale warning has been raised over the coastlines of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte’s northern coasts. Pagasa said fisherfolk and boat transfer operators using small boats are advised against making trips as waves may reach as high as 2.8 meters to 4.5 meters.

KGA