Pagasa: ITCZ seen to bring rain to Mindanao, parts of Luzon

Weather satellite image from Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Even if the low-pressure area (LPA) has already dissipated, rain is still likely to persist in Mindanao and some parts of Luzon from Friday night through Saturday due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), state meteorologists said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5 p.m. weather bulletin Friday that dense clouds were hovering near the ITCZ located along Central and Southern Mindanao.

A “flare-up” of the ITCZ is also expected to pour rain across sections of the Bicol Region, especially Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, and Quezon province. Cloud bands being lifted by the ITCZ are what the flare-up is about.

“Kaninang umaga nga ay tuluyan nang nalusaw ang low-pressure area na binabantayan natin at dating bagyong Queenie, ngunit napalitan ito ng intertropical convergence zone na nakaka-apekto ngayon dito sa Mindanao area,” weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said.

(The LPA we’ve been monitoring, which used to be Tropical Depression Queenie, has dissipated this morning, but it was replaced by the ITCZ which is currently affecting the Mindanao area.)

READ: Queenie fades into LPA, may dissipate in 12 hours – Pagasa

“Subalit ‘yong kaulapan dito sa Camarines provinces at Quezon, ito ‘yong tinatawag natin na ‘flare up’ o ‘yong pag-angat ng epekto ng ating ITCZ kaya inaasahan natin ang patuloy na kalat-kalat na pag-ulan at pagkidlat at pagkulog d’yan nga sa Quezon at Camarines province,” he added.

(But for Camarines provinces and Quezon, they are affected by what we call ‘flare up’ or the upward movement of the ITCZ’s effect, that’s why we expect isolated rain showers and thunderstorms over these areas.)

While the rain is not expected to last long, Pagasa said they will still be monitoring its intensity since these areas were recently hit by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae).

READ: Tragic Paeng combination: Nonstop rains, deforestation

But for the next three to five days, Pagasa said they are not expecting any tropical cyclones to enter the Philippine area of responsibility.

For Saturday, Pagasa said fair weather is possible over a big part of Luzon save for isolated rains and thunderstorms. Temperatures over Legazpi and Puerto Princesa are seen to reach 25 to 32 degrees Celsius, Metro Manila and Tuguegarao with 25 to 33 degrees Celsius, Laoag with 24 to 31 degrees Celsius, Baguio with 16 to 24 degrees Celsius, and Tagaytay with 21 to 31 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures for most of Visayas and Mindanao for Saturday will be slightly lower due to the ITCZ, with Cebu and Tacloban possibly feeling it at 25 to 32 degrees Celsius; Iloilo, 26 to 32 degrees Celsius; Cagayan de Oro, 24 to 31 degrees Celsius;  Zamboanga, 24 to 34 degrees Celsius; and Davao, 24 to 32 degrees Celsius.

Pagasa did not raise any gale warning, based on its latest advisory, making it safe for fisherfolk and small boat operators to travel.

KGA/abc