Pagasa weather satellite image
MANILA, Philippines — Heat will remain prevalent in the country although state meteorologists said Thursday that cloudy skies and rain showers may still be expected over the weekend as the southwest monsoon affects the western portion of the country.
Weather updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) released on Thursday afternoon showed that only the northwestern parts of the country — those over the northern parts of Ilocos Region — will feel the effects of the southwest monsoon, which is locally known as habagat.
But this may change by Saturday because precipitation is predicted for a vast portion of Western Luzon.
“Ang naranasan nating panahon sa buong bansa, mainit at maalinsangang panahon, at ngayong hapon at mamayang gabi ay meron tayong aasahan na mga thunderstorms,” weather specialist Ariel Rojas.
(The weather that we felt today all over the country is hot and humid, and this afternoon and tonight we may experience thunderstorms.)
“Inaasahang hanggang bukas ay iiral pa rin ang mahinang southwest monsoon sa may Northern Luzon. Pero pagdating po ng Saturday at Sunday ay posibleng magdulot na ng mga pag-ulan ang habagat na ito sa ilang bahagi ng western part ng Luzon,” he added.
(We are expecting the weak southwest monsoon to affect Northern Luzon until tomorrow. Because by Saturday and Sunday, this southwest monsoon will likely cause rain over some parts of Western Luzon.)
While thunderstorms may occur from time to time, Pagasa said Luzon would remain generally hot on Friday as temperatures in Metro Manila will range from 26 to 34 degrees Celsius; Legazpi, 25 to 33 degrees Celsius; Puerto Princesa, 26 to 32 degrees Celsius; and Tuguegarao, a scorching 37 degrees Celsius.
Similar conditions may be experienced in Visayas and Mindanao with Cebu and Iloilo possibly hitting temperatures of around 26 to 33 degrees Celsius; Tacloban, 27 to 32 degrees Celius; Zamboanga, 24 to 34 degrees Celsius; Cagayan de Oro, 23 to 33 degrees Celsius; and Davao, 25 to 32 degrees Celsius.
The state weather bureau urged the public to always drink water to avoid dehydration due to the hot and humid weather.
Meanwhile, Pagasa raised no gale warning but reminded fisherfolk and small boat operators that sea conditions for the northernmost waters of Luzon would be moderate to rough. It also said moderate sea situations would also be seen for the rest of Luzon’s seaboards and Eastern Visayas seas.
The rest of the country’s coastlines, on the other hand, would have a slight to moderate condition, Pagasa added.