Shear line, ITCZ seen to bring more rains

Still cloudy in most parts of the Philippines similar to this Dec. 25 satellite photo from Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — The prevailing shear line in the northeast part of the country, in tandem with the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), is forecast to continue to cause rains until Thursday, the weather service said on Wednesday.

Based on the 5 p.m. weather advisory of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), heavy to intense rainfall was expected over the provinces of Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes up to Dec. 26.

For Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Albay, Sorsogon, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental, moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast during the same period.

“[The shear line] is currently affecting central and southern Luzon, while the ITCZ is affecting the eastern portion of Mindanao,” weather specialist Veronica Torres said.

READ: Rainy Christmas Day to prevail in Luzon due to shear line, amihan

“Expect the shear line to bring cloudy skies and isolated thunderstorms in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, as well as in the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas,” she added.

The ITCZ will bring cloudy skies on top of scattered rains and thunderstorms over Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen, while the northeast monsoon (“amihan”) will cause rains in Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region, according to Torres.

From Thursday until Friday afternoon, Pagasa expects heavy to intense rainfall to continue over Aurora, as well as in Isabela and Cagayan due to the shear line and ITCZ. Moderate to heavy rainfall will also be felt over the provinces of Apayao, Quezon, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.