MANILA, Philippines — Cloudy skies and rain showers are expected in most parts of the country on Friday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
“Ngayong umaga asahan po ang pag-ulan sa malaking bahagi ng southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao dahil sa mga convergence o salubungan ng hangin,” said Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja in an early morning update.
(This morning, expect rain in large parts of southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao due to the convergence of winds.)
The southwest monsoon or “habagat”, which was weakened in previous days, will prevail again starting Friday noon, according to Estareja.
“Kung ngayong umaga, asahan ang easterlies sa eastern section ng Luzon at Visayas, eventually pagsapit ng tanghali at hanggang sa long weekend ay iiral na muli ang habagat or southwest monsoon at itong habagat ay magpapaulan pa rin sa southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” he said.
(This morning, we are expecting the easterlies to prevail in the eastern section of Luzon and Visayas. By noon and until the long weekend, the southwest monsoon will prevail again and this southwest monsoon will bring rain to southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.)
Estareja said Pagasa is monitoring a possible low pressure area inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
“Itong cloud clusters sa may parteng Mimaropa ay possibleng mabuo as shallow circulations or low pressure area,” he said.
(These cloud clusters in the Mimaropa part may become a shallow circulation or a low pressure area.)
Meanwhile, Pagasa is monitoring a weather disturbance outside PAR – Severe Tropical Storm named Shanshan.
Shanshan is 2,135 kilometers away east of Central Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 125 kph.
Estareja said Shanshan does not have a direct effect and is moving towards Japan.
Meanwhile, Pagasa did not raise a gale warning over any of the country’s seaboards.