Hailstorm hits some parts of QC

Pagasa weather update. GRAPHICS BY INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Hailstorm occurred in some parts of Quezon City on Monday afternoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Weather specialist Mary May Calimoso of the National Capital Region Pagasa Regional Services Division told INQUIRER.net that the hail event affected Balintawak, based on their satellite imagery.

READ: Hailstorm hits parts of QC; rains over metro, nearby provinces

“Based on the satellite image, it happened at around 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the area of Balintawak, but it is not fixed in that area because the cloud was moving,” Calimoso said in a phone interview.

She added that hailstorms may likely occur in Central Luzon, too since the area is experiencing heavy rainfall as of Monday evening.

“No reports have reached us yet, but most likely, there should be similar occurrences in Central Luzon because of heavy rain in that area,” the weather specialist said.

Hot and wet air

When asked why a hail event occurs, Calimoso explained that easterlies usually bring hot and wet air, and with enough moisture, she added that it could lead to the formation of clouds.

“The hotter it is, the more moisture may be present. This means more chances of thunderstorms to form,” she said.

Calimoso further disclosed that the continuous development of thunderstorms may cause them to overshoot to the troposphere, where the temperature is cooler.

“Whenever there are formations of large thunderstorms, they often reach the troposphere where they cool down and form ice. Once these ice becomes heavy, they fall as hail,” she added.

When asked if more hail events may occur in the following days, Calimoso said that Pagasa only expects more thunderstorm events on Tuesday in various parts of the country.

Earlier, the state weather bureau issued a thunderstorm advisory warning residents that “moderate to Heavy rain showers with lightning and strong winds” will be experienced over Metro Manila, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Pampanga, and Bataan.

It added that thunderstorms also occurred in the following areas:

• Cavite (General Emilio Aguinaldo, Magallanes, Maragondon, Indang, Naic, Trece Martires), Bulacan (Bulakan, Bocaue, Balagtas, Santa Maria)
• Nueva Ecija (Licab, Quezon, Santo Domingo, Zaragoza, San Antonio, Jaen, Santa Rosa, Aliaga, Guimba)
• Tarlac (Tarlac City, San Jose, Moncada, Paniqui, Santa Ignacia, Mayantoc, Gerona, La Paz, Victoria, Ramos, Pura)
• Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Cabangan, San Felipe, San Narciso, San Antonio)
• Batangas (Nasugbu).