Chilly weather starts off 2021

FOGGY SUNDAY Motorcycle riders drive through the fog on Marilaque Highway at Baras town, Rizal province, following hours of rain in Metro Manila on Sunday. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The country will have rainy weather during the first week of 2021 due to the combined effects of the tail end of a frontal system and easterlies, as well as the prevailing northeast monsoon.

Residents in Metro Manila may also expect chilly weather throughout the week, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

In its 4 p.m. bulletin on Sunday, Pagasa weather specialist Samuel Duran said huge clumps of clouds were covering almost the entire country, stretching from Central Luzon down to Mindanao, bringing showers nationwide.

Warnings

On Monday, cloudy skies with scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, southern Luzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao due to the effects of the tail end of the frontal system, or shear line, and the easterlies, or trade winds, blowing from the east.

Pagasa warned residents to watch out for flash floods or landslides that may be caused by moderate to heavy rain.

The northeast monsoon, locally known as “amihan,” will bring cloudy skies with light rain in provinces in the north, particularly in the regions of Cagayan, Cordillera and Ilocos.

23 degrees Celsius

Metro Manila may experience rain until Thursday, with temperatures potentially dropping to a low of 23 degrees Celsius, weather forecasters said.

In Tagaytay City, sweaters will be a must, with temperatures ranging from a high of 28 C and a low of 21 C.

Baguio City will enjoy even cooler weather, with a high of 23 C and potentially dropping to a chilly 13 C.

Cold winds from the northeast monsoon are expected until February, Pagasa earlier said.