PH undergoes monsoon break, but rain still likely due to ITCZ
Pagasa satellite image
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines may be going through a break from the monsoon but isolated rains brought about by the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) remains possible over Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao, according to the state weather service.
In its Wednesday afternoon forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) explained that a monsoon break is a period where the prevailing wind pattern such as the southwest monsoon or habagat would not have a strong impact on a country’s weather systems.
As a result, the country can expect that no possible tropical cyclones may develop in the coming three to five days.
Nevertheless, Pagasa said the ITCZ, or the area where winds from the northern and southern hemisphere meet, can cause moderate to heavy rains especially on the eastern side of Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Due to this, the weather bureau warned that flash floods and rain-induced landslides may occur, especially in areas where rains have been felt for the past few days.
These conditions would bring lower temperatures over Visayas and Mindanao on Thursday, Pagasa also said, as residents of Cebu, Zamboanga, and Davao can expect something between 24 to 32 degrees Celsius; Cagayan de Oro, 24 to 31 degrees Celsius; Iloilo, 25 to 33 degrees Celsius; and Tacloban, 25 to 32 degrees Celsius.
In Luzon, Palawan may also see rains as temperatures would hover around 25 to 32 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
Metro Manila, on the other hand, may feel it between 25 and 33 degrees Celsius; Tuguegarao and Legazpi, 25 and 34 degrees Celsius; Laoag, 25 and 32 degrees Celsius; Baguio, 16 and 26 degrees Celsius; and Tagaytay between 21 and 31 degrees Celsius.
As for the rest of the country, weather conditions may be better but brief scattered rain showers may still occur due to localized thunderstorms.
No gale warning has been raised, but Pagasa warned that sea conditions around Luzon’s waters and Eastern Visayas’ seaboards would be moderate. Meanwhile, the rest of the country would have a slight to moderate sea conditions.
