Pagasa: Weather to improve but monsoon to continue bringing rains

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration sees a gradual improvement in weather conditions in the country toward the weekend as the southwest monsoon continues to weaken.

But the weather bureau said that thunderstorms and intermittent rains are expected to continue from late afternoon to dawn, which is characteristic of the southwest monsoon, over Luzon.

Weather forecaster Fernando Cada pointed out that the recent torrential rains were the result of the monsoon being intensified by the nearly simultaneous occurrence of a low pressure area as well as tropical storms “Gener” and “Haikui.”

“There is currently no weather system that could enhance the southwest monsoon. But we have observed rainclouds on the Doppler radar and satellite images over the West Philippine Sea that have not dissipated despite dumping rains in Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and portions of Southern Luzon,” Cada said.

He explained that the rainclouds normally would have dissipated by now but that they have not and that this would bring bursts of heavy rain in some areas of Luzon.

While generally good weather is anticipated for the weekend, the Ilocos provinces, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan may expect moderate  occasional to frequent rains.

Cada said residents of Zambales and Pampanga should be on the alert for lahar flows because of the rains. He stressed that landslides, as well as flash floods and floods, are possible in low-lying areas and along rivers.

At around 12:20 p.m. Thursday, Pagasa lifted the heavy rainfall warning over Metro Manila after light to moderate rainfall (1 mm to 7 mm per hour) was observed from 10 a.m. to noon.

The weather bureau said, however, that residents of Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas cities should expect some  thunderstorms accompanied by moderate to heavy rainfall.

Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms while the Visayas will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and Western Visayas and the coastal waters in these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the south to southwest with slight to moderate seas.

Gale-force winds are expected to affect the western coast of Luzon and sea conditions off Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Manila Bay, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro and Palawan are expected to be rough to very rough due to the monsoon.

Conditions on the eastern coast (Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon) are also expected to be rough to very rough because of occasional rains.

The weather bureau advised fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out to the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted to big waves.