MANILA, Philippines — The low pressure area (LPA) has exited the Philippine area of responsibility, but cloudy skies with scattered rain showers persist in most parts of the country due to the southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat,” said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Wednesday.
Pagasa Weather Specialist Obet Badrina, in a public weather forecast, said the LPA was last seen 250 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte outside the Philippine area of responsibility. According to Badrina, the weather disturbance no longer affects any part of the country and it may dissipate in the next few hours.
“Ang southwest monsoon o habagat ang nakakaapekto partikular na sa Southern Luzon at Visayas kaya inaasahan natin na medyo maulap ang kalangitan partikular na sa kanlurang bahagi ng Luzon at Visayas,” said Badrina.
(The southwest monsoon affects Southern Luzon and Visayas in particular, so we are expecting cloudy skies particularly in the western part of Luzon and Visayas.)
He then stressed that the probability of rain is greater in Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Western Visayas, Zambales, and Bataan. Residents of these areas were alerted against rain-induced hazards such as flood and landslides.
Meanwhile, the rest of the country may expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers lasting for about one to two hours due to the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and localized thunderstorms.
For the next three days, forecast temperature range in the country’s key cities are as follows:
- Metro Manila – 25°C to 32°C
- Baguio City – 17°C to 25°C
- Legazpi City – 24°C to 32°C
- Metro Cebu – 25°C to 33°C
- Metro Davao – 24°C to 33°C