Pagasa declares onset of rainy season

MANILA, Philippines -The state weather bureau on Monday officially declared the onset of the rainy season, alerting the public on “enhanced rainfall” all over the country.

“The prevailing synoptic conditions over the country are now characterized by southwesterly to westerly windflow, high humidity, presence of rain clouds and the daily occurrence of rainshowers and thunderstorms, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said in a statement.

“With this development, enhanced rainfall is expected over the country particularly over the western section which signifies the onset of the rainy season. However, breaks in rainfall maybe expected lasting for a few days or weeks,” it added.

Meanwhile, tropical storm “Dante” (international name: Yagi) increased its strength and speed as it continued to head out of the Philippine territory.

Dante was last observed 1,295 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 100 kph. It is forecast to move north northeast at 17 kph.

It is expected to be out of the country by Tuesday morning.

“Mimaropa, Calabarzon and Western Visayas will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening,” Pagasa said in its afternoon bulletin.

“Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to west will prevail over extreme northern Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere winds will be moderate to occasionally strong coming from the southwest with moderate to occasionally rough seas,” it added.