MANILA, Philippines — The surge of the northeast monsoon that brings cloudy skies and slightly colder weather over Northern and Central Luzon may be the last for now, as state meteorologists expect the entrance of the dry season in a few days.
According to weather updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Tuesday, the northeast monsoon or Amihan and the warm easterlies would also cause the tail end of a frontal system.
The tail end would then cause cloudy skies and rains over Southern Luzon and Luzon’s eastern parts like Aurora and Bicol Region.
However, the latest Amihan surge may be the last for now as Pagasa says the declaration of the country’s dry season may happen anytime this week.
“Kanina po ay nagdeclare na po ang Pagasa na posible na by this weekend ay magsimula na ang opisyal na pagsalubong natin sa ating panahon ng tag-init, at itong nga pong umiiral na amihan ay posibleng huling bugso na po na mararanasan natin ngayong amihan season,” weather specialist Ariel Rojas said.
(Earlier, Pagasa has declared that it is possible to announce the dry season’s official start by this weekend, meaning that this surge of the northeast monsoon may be the last for this amihan season.)
“Kaya sa mga susunod po na araw or pagkatapos po ng linggong ito, ay asahan na natin ang pag-taas pa at pagiging mainit ng ating temperatura,” he added.
(That’ why for the next and coming days or after this week, we can expect the gradual increase in temperature and the onset of hot weather.)
For Wednesday, cloudy skies and rains would prevail over the Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region due to the Amihan, while rains may continue over Southern Luzon and Bicol because of the tail end of a frontal system.
Temperatures over Tuguegarao may plummet to 21 to 27 degrees Celsius, 16 to 24 degrees in Baguio, 21 to 29 degrees in Tagaytay, 24 to 32 degrees in Metro Manila, and 26 to 31 degrees in Legazpi. Laoag and Puerto Princesa would be warm from 26 to 33 degrees and 27 to 33 degrees, respectively.
Eastern Visayas would also be affected by the tail end of a cold front, while Davao Region may have rains brought by the easterlies. Tacloban’s temperatures would play between 23 and 31 degrees Celsius, significantly lower than Cebu and Iloilo’s 26 to 33 degrees.
In Mindanao, Davao would have something between 23 and 32 degrees Celsius, while Cagayan de Oro may register temperatures around 23 to 33 degrees.
A gale warning is still placed over Ilocos Region’s waters, the whole northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon down to Eastern Visayas seas because of the northeast monsoon and the frontal system.
As waves may reach heights of 2.8 meters to 4.5 meters, Pagasa said that fisherfolk using small boats are not allowed to set sail in these areas. Meanwhile, the rest of Luzon’s western seas would have a moderate to rough condition.