Pagasa: Isolated rain likely, but harsh heat lingers
Weather satellite image from Pagasa
MANILA, Philippines — Rain may occur in several parts of the country on Friday, but this does not mean a respite from scorching hot weather.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said three weather systems—troughs, or extensions, of a low-pressure area (LPA), easterlies, and localized thunderstorms—would bring overcast skies and rain to areas in Mindanao and Metro Manila.
In an early Friday morning public report, Pagasa expert Benison Estareja said the LPA trough spotted outside of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Thursday will cause cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Davao and Soccsksargen regions.
“As of two in the morning, itong LPA ay huling namataan sa labas ng PAR 645 kilometers timog-timog silangan ng General Santos City,” said Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja.
(As of two in the morning, this LPA was last observed outside the PAR, some 645 kilometers south-southeast of General Santos City.)
READ: Pagasa sees LPA outside PH area of responsibility
“Base naman sa ating analysis, hindi ito papasok ng ating area of responsibility ay hindi rin inaasahan na magiging isang bagyo,” he added.
(Based on our analysis, it will not enter our area of responsibility, nor is it expected to become a typhoon.)
Estareja then said that the easterlies, or warm winds blowing from the Pacific Ocean, and localized thunderstorms will provide chances of partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in Metro Manila and the rest of the country.
READ: Pagasa: Summer is officially here
Pagasa warned of possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms in affected low-lying areas.
Nevertheless, Estareja noted that Metro Manila and the rest of the country will still have generally fair weather on Friday.
The ridge of a high-pressure area (HPA), on the other hand, continues to prevail in northern Luzon, according to the state weather agency.
The presence of HPA’s ridge means clearer skies and hot weather in the eastern section of northern Luzon on Friday.
Estareja said Pagasa listed a “record temperature” of 35.5 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila for this year on April 4.
“Kahapon po nakapagtala tayo ng record temperature dito sa Metro Manila for this year na 35.5 degrees Celcius na actual temperature,” he noted.
(On Thursday, we logged a record temperature here in Metro Manila for this year, which is 35.5 degrees Celcius.)
As for the temperature ranges in key cities/areas across the country for April 5, Pagasa issued the following:
- Metro Manila – 24 to 35 degrees Celsius
- Baguio City – 17 to 26 degrees Celsius
- Laoag City – 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
- Tuguegarao – 26 to 37 degrees Celsius
- Legazpi City – 26 to 32 degrees Celsius
- Tagaytay – 22 to 33 degrees Celsius
- Puerto Princesa City – 26 to 34 degrees Celsius
- Kalayaan Islands – 25 to 34 degrees Celsius
- Iloilo City – 27 to 32 degrees Celsius
- Metro Cebu – 27 to 32 degrees Celsius
- Tacloban City – 26 to 32 degrees Celsius
- Cagayan De Oro City – 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
- Zamboanga City – 25 to 34 degrees Celsius
- Metro Davao – 25 to 33 degrees Celsius
However, the forecast temperature range differs from the predicted heat index, also known as the apparent temperature.
Pagasa defines heat index as “a human discomfort index that gives the apparent temperature on what humans perceive or feel as the temperature (from the surroundings) affecting the body.”
