Cloudy, rainy New Year’s Eve due to weather systems – Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Different weather systems, including the northeast monsoon, will result in a cloudy and possibly rainy New Year’s Eve across the country, state meteorologists said on Monday afternoon.

The northeast monsoon or amihan will cause cloudy skies over Northern Luzon on December 31, with a high chance of rain, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

The shearline below the monsoon winds — or the convergence of hot and cold air — is also expected to bring moisture over the central portions of the country.

“We have weather systems currently affecting our country […] this northeast monsoon affects provinces over Northern Luzon, and because of this we can expect cloudy skies and rains, and we can also experience rains over mainland Cagayan and Isabela due to the shear line,” weather specialist Chenel Domingues said in Filipino.

“We have an area without clouds on the eastern side, and this is because of easterlies which prevail over this part of the country.  But these easterlies, we can expect to bring rains over Metro Manila and nearby areas like the Bicol Region,” she added.

Several eastern provinces may see moderate to heavy rains — Apayao, Cagayan, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte. The same conditions are expected in Palawan and Zamboanga del Sur.

Meanwhile, an intertropical convergence zone is expected to affect the Visayas and Mindanao, which will also have cloudy skies and rains.

Despite the gloomy weather, Pagasa has not observed any tropical cyclones or low pressure areas that may enter the country in the coming days.

Temperatures for Tuesday are expected to remain low due to the weather systems in the following areas:

• Laoag: 23 to 31°C
• Tuguegarao: 22 to 28°C
• Baguio City: 16 to 23°C
• Metro Manila: 24 to 31°C
• Legazpi City: 24 to 30°C
• Puerto Princesa City: 25 to 30°C
• Tagaytay City:  22 to 29°C

Similarly, temperatures over major cities in Visayas and Mindanao will also be low:

• Tacloban City: 24 to 29°C
• Cebu City: 25 to 31°C
• Cagayan de Oro City and Iloilo City: 24 to 31°C
• Zamboanga City: 25 to 32°C
• Davao City: 25 to 31°C

A gale warning meanwhile was raised over the waters off Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, abd the northern waters off Ilocos Norte.

According to Pagasa, it will be dangerous for small boat operators to move over these seas as waves may reach heights of 2.8 to 4.5 meters.