CEBUANOS can expect rainy days this week because of a low pressure area located east of Mindanao.
Weather analyst Al Alcazar of the state weather bureau Pagasa said yesterday they are monitoring the low pressure area for signs that it may develop into a storm.
Pagasa’s Mactan office issued a gale warning yesterday, warning the public about very rough seas in the Visayas.
Weather analyst Ella Comahig said the rough seas were caused by the strong northeast monsoon locally known as amihan.
Based on the gale warning, the wave height is estimated to range from 3.4 meters to 5.0 meters, which is dangerous to small seacrafts.
The low pressure area was sighted at 230 kms east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, in Mindanao based on the weather forecast at 5 p.m. yesterday.
Residents of coastal barangays are advised to be watchful of moderate to rough waves that may hit their area.
Those living in the mountains are advised to monitor the possible occurrence of landslides caused by heavy rains.
Alvin Santillana, head of the Cebu City Risk Reduction Management Council, said they are monitoring the mountain barangay of Buhisan where a landslide which resulted from last Monday’s earthquake covered a portion of the barangay road.
Rocks and mud that fell from uphill and covered a portion of the Buhisan road located at the shoulder of the barangay road leading to the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) dam were already cleared.
But Santillana said another landslide may happen in the area if continuous raining is felt in the city. He said barangay Buhisan is landslide prone because of the presence of several springs there.
When the earthquake struck last Monday, he immediately visited the barangay to also check on the dam. “If the dam was hit, it would be alarming because there are lots of houses located below it,” Santillana said.
Santillana said he talked with MCWD officials on a plan to reinforce the slope of the dam for added protection. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac with Correspondents Edison delos Angeles and Jhunnex Napallacan