Weather satellite image from Pagasa
MANILA, Philippines — Most of the Philippines would see cloudy skies and rains on Tuesday as three weather systems – shear line, easterlies, and northeasterly surface wind flow – influence the atmospheric conditions in the country.
In an early morning weathercast, Benison Estareja, a specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said overcast skies with rains will affect Batanes due to the northeasterly surface wind flow or weak northeast monsoon.
These winds, coming from the northeast, are also expected to cause a slight drop in temperatures in the affected areas, he noted.
The Pagasa weather expert added that the shear line will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms to Babuyan Islands in Cagayan.
“Today, expect rainy conditions to still occur in Batanes and Babuyan Group of Islands. That’s the effect of a combined shear line and northeasterly wind flow,” Estareja explained in mixed Filipino and English. “It will be a cloudy weather and anticipate scattered rain showers and thunderstorms there.”
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According to Estareja, the shear line is the boundary where the cold air meets the easterlies.
On the easterlies effect, Pagasa said it is seen cause cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms in Caraga and Northern Mindanao.
The Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, and Davao Region will also experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the easterlies.
“To our countrymen in Palawan, especially in the southern portion, expect a high chance of rain starting this morning, but it won’t last long. Meanwhile, in the southern portion of Central Visayas and Negros Island Region, there will also be brief rain showers starting this morning,” Estareja also said in a mix of Filipino and English.
In Metro Manila and the rest of the country, partly overcast to overcast skies isolated rain showers or thunderstorms may be expected to occur Tuesday, he added.
“So make sure to bring an umbrella if you’re heading out,” Estarejo reminded the public.
Pagasa likewise said the northeasterly wind flow could trigger wave heights reaching up to five meters at seaboards in the extreme northern Luzon, including Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte on Tuesday – prompting the state weather agency to raise a gale warning over these areas.