‘Habagat’ to bring rain to most of PH, including Metro Manila

Cloud clusters are scattered nationwide in Pagasa’s latest satellite imagery.

MANILA, Philippines — Cloud clusters were visible on Monday over many parts of the country, including Metro Manila, indicating overcast skies and rainfall, according to the state weather bureau.

This weather condition was caused by the southwest monsoon, or habagat, said Daniel James Villamil, weather specialist at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

“We can see in our latest satellite image the thick cloud clusters affecting most parts of the country this early morning—this is the continuous effect of the southwest monsoon or habagat,” Villamil said in a public weather forecast.

Aside from Metro Manila, cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms were observed in Calabarzon, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan in Luzon, as well as in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City), and the Davao Region in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms—also due to the habagat—are expected over the rest of the country.

Villamil also noted that the low-pressure area outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has developed into a tropical depression.

READ: LPA outside PAR may become tropical depression within 24 hours — Pagasa

As of 3:00 a.m., the tropical depression was last located 2,425 kilometers east-northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon. Villamil said it is unlikely to enter the PAR and have a direct effect on the country./mcm