Pagasa: Brighter skies in Luzon, Visayas as heat persists due to HPA

MANILA, Philippines — Luzon and the Visayas are expected to have brighter skies and hot weather due to a high-pressure area on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

State weather agency expert Obet Badina said almost no clouds will form over the regions on April 22.

“Kaya makikita niyo dito sa ating satellite images [ay] halos wala masyadong kaulapan dito sa may bahagi ng Luzon. Isa ho kasi sa indikasyon ‘yan ng high pressure area – hindi masyadong nabubuo ‘yung mga kaulapan. Kaya mainit na panahon pa rin ang mararanasan, partikular na dito sa may Luzon at Kabisayaan,” said Badrina in a public forecast.

(So you can see here in our satellite images that there are almost no clouds here in this part of Luzon. That is an indication of a high-pressure area – the clouds don’t form much. That’s why hot weather will still be experienced, particularly in Luzon and the Visayas.)

READ: Pagasa; High-pressure area’s ridge to bring hot weather April 21

Badrina also said that tropical cyclone formation is less likely “within the week,” although Pagasa is monitoring a low-pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

However, the weather specialist warned that localized thunderstorms may still occur in certain areas. Samar, Leyte, and Caraga may see isolated rains on Monday.

“Malapit ito sa equator at hindi natin [ito] inaasahan na magiging bagyo, pero ‘yung mga kaulapan, kasama na ang trough o extension nito ang siyang magdadala ng mas malaking tiyansa o malaking pag ulan partikular na sa bahagi ng Basilan, Sulu at Tawi-Tawi,” he said.

(It is near the equator and it remains less likely to develop into a tropical cyclone, but the clouds, as well as the trough or extension of the LPA would bring higher chances of rain particularly in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.)

Badrina said the LPA is expected to dissipate “in the next few hours or within the day.”