Pagasa: Weak shear line means less rain in parts of Visayas, Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — The state weather agency said several areas in Visayas and Mindanao will experience less rain on Saturday because of a weak shear line, or the convergence of cool and warm winds.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) likewise said in its Saturday morning weather advisory that the northeast monsoon, which is locally termed amihan, has strengthened and is expected to affect the country for the rest of the day.

“Tuluyan pa ngang humina ang epekto ng shear line o salubungan ng mainit at malamig na hangin sa malaking bahagi ng ating bansa. Kaya mababawasan na rin ‘yung mga pag-ulan sa ilang areas ng Visayas at Mindanao,” Pagasa weather specialist Daniel Villamil said in a public report.

(The effect of the shear line or meeting of hot and cold air has even weakened in a large part of our country. So the rains will also decrease in some areas of Visayas and Mindanao.)

According to Pagasa, overcast skies with light rains will prevail Saturday over Quezon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Davao Oriental because of the northeast monsoon as Metro Manila and the rest of the country may see partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains due to the same weather system.

However, state meteorologists noted that such weather conditions may have no significant impact on the affected areas.

READ: Pagasa: No tropical cyclones expected until end of January

On the country’s seaboards, Pagasa raised a gale alert over the coasts of Catanduanes; Albay; Sorsogon; and Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands; southern coasts of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro; Romblon; and Palawan, including Calamian, Cuyo, Kalayaan, and Cagayancillo Islands.

Waves along the seaboards of these areas may reach up to 4.5 meters on Saturday, according to the state weather bureau.