’No storm on Christmas; Be ready for rains’

The state weather bureau said Christmas will be storm free, but umbrellas may be needed due to rainfall.

Those in storm ravaged southeastern Mindanao may heave a sign of relief as the low pressure area (LPA) in the Pacific Ocean which seemed headed to southern Philippines had dissipated.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)  senior weather specialist in Mactan, Al Quiblat said the temperature changes  in the low pressure area resulted in its dissipation.

“It was unable to maintain the temperature of 26 degrees Celsius while at the Pacific Ocean,” Quiblat said.

But the country will still experience an Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) increasing the possibility of rains from Dec. 24 to 26.

A northeast monsoon will cause moderate waves in Luzon and Central Visayas. The ITCZ will also prevail in southern Mindanao while Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.

A special weather outlook for the Christmas holidays issued by Pagasa said “frequent rains over the provinces of Surigao, Davao, Leyte and Samar beginning on the 24th and until Christmas day due to the approach of a LPA.

The eastern section of Northern and Central Luzon will have light rains associated with the northeast monsoon. The rest of the country will have good weather conditions apart from passing showers.”/intern by Christine Emily Pantaleon