Pagasa warns of flash floods, landslides due to rains
MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau warned that flash floods or landslides may happen as moderate to heavy rains are forecast in many parts of the country on Wednesday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said four weather systems – northeast monsoon (Locally known as amihan), easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean, shear line, and localized thunderstorms – are affecting the country. The weather patterns will bring rain and overcast skies in at least five regions.
Specifically, it said, the shear line and easterlies are forecast to cause cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Visayas, Mindanao, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, and Quezon.
Pagasa also said that the northeast monsoon will bring cloudy skies with rains in Batanes and Babuyan Islands and partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light showers in Ilocos Norte and Apayao.
As for Metro Manila and the rest of the country, generally fair weather with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms caused by localized thunderstorms may occur, it added.
Weather satellite image from Pagasa
On the country’s seaboards, the state weather agency said it is not raising any gale alert over these areas, although moderate to rough coastal conditions will be experienced over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, where waves could reach 1.2 to 3.1 meters high.
“Wala po tayong nakataaas na gale warning ngunit ibayong pag-iingat pa rin para sa mga kababayan natin na maglalayag dito sa mga dagat baybayin ng northern Luzon maging sa silangang dagat baybayin ng central at southern Luzon,” said Pagasa weather specialist Grace Castañeda.
(We’re not raising a gale warning, but we still advise our compatriots who will sail here in the seas along the coast of northern Luzon and in the eastern seas along the coast of central and southern Luzon to take extra precautions.)
Pagasa added that the coastlines of eastern Visayas and the northeastern portion of Mindanao will have moderate conditions, with waves likely reaching 1.2 to 2.5 meters high, while the rest of the archipelago’s coasts will be slight to moderate as waves may reach 0.6 to 2.1 meters.
RELATED STORIES
Pagasa: Mostly cloudy skies with rains may prevail over many parts of PH
Ready for the chill? Pagasa says ‘amihan’ begins
