Shear line to bring thunderstorms to parts of Luzon amid persisting heat — Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Parts of Central and Southern Luzon can expect thunderstorm activity due to a shear line on Wednesday amid continued heat and humidity, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

“May namamataan na cloud formations sa Philippine Sea kung saan maaari itong axis ng shear line… ito’y magpapadala sa mga thunderstorm activities sa may silangang bahagi ng Central and Southern Luzon,” explained Pagasa weather forecaster Patrick del Mundo in a Wednesday report.

(We have spotted cloud formations in the Philippine Sea in which a shear line axis… may bring thunderstorm activities to the eastern parts of Central and Southern Luzon.)

Del Mundo went on to specify that Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Quezon, and parts of the Bicol Region will experience thunderstorms caused by the shear line that is currently tagged east of Luzon.

Pagasa also reported that the frontal system it was previously monitoring is now outside the Philippine area of responsibility, and no low pressure areas are currently being monitored.

Meanwhile, easterlies persisting in eastern parts of Visayas and Mindanao will continue to bring humid heat to Metro Manila and the remaining parts of the country, according to del Mundo.

Pagasa once again predicted sweltering Wednesday heat indices for the entire country according to its 1-day forecast published Tuesday— the highest forecasted index being 45°C in Dipolog in Zamboanga del Norte.

This is closely followed by a 44°C index in Ambulog in Batangas and Zamboanga City; a 43°C index in Pasay City, Sangley Point, Roxas City, and Iloilo City; and a 42°C index in Laoag City, Dagupan City, San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, Legazpi City, Dauis in Bohol, Mactan City, Tacloban City, Borongan in Eastern Samar, and Cotabato City.

The aforementioned temperatures fall under the “Danger” category in Pagasa’s effect-based heat index classifications. The weather authority warns on its website’s heat index explainer that heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible while continuing activity in these indices could lead to heat stroke.

Isolated rain, lightning, and thunder may also hit Visayas and Mindanao amid the heat due to localized thunderstorms.

No gale warnings were raised over any of the country’s seaboards, but del Mundo advised fishers and small vessel owners to take caution in extreme Northern Luzon waters, as waves in the area could range from moderate to rough.

The forecast temperature range in key cities/areas on Wednesday will be:

Luzon

• Metro Manila: 26 to 33 degrees Celsius
• Baguio City: 17 to 26 degrees Celsius
• Laoag City:  26 to 34 degrees Celsius
• Tuguegarao: 25 to 34 degrees Celsius
• Legazpi City: 26 to 33 degrees Celsius
• Puerto Princesa City: 26 to 33 degrees Celsius
• Tagaytay: 23 to 31 degrees Celsius
• Kalayaan Islands: 26 to 33 degrees Celsius

Visayas

• Iloilo City: 26 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Cebu: 27 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Tacloban City: 26 to 33 degrees Celsius

Mindanao

• Cagayan De Oro City: 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Zamboanga City: 25 to 35 degrees Celsius
• Davao City: 26 to 34 degrees Celsius

RELATED STORIES

Clouds, rains in Northern Luzon due to frontal system — Pagasa

Extreme caution, danger: Heat indices of 35-44°C to hit PH, says Pagasa

Hyperthermia: When extreme heat kills

je