Rain to greet Pope Francis in Tacloban–Pagasa

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

In this picture provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and to the world) blessing from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Tens of thousands of Romans and tourists in St. Peter's Square listened as the pontiff delivered the Catholic church's traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (Latin for "to the city and to the world) Christmas message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. Francis said: "truly there are so many tears this Christmas." Pope Francis focused his concern Thursday on those weeping in the world this Christmas, singling out refugees, hostages and others suffering in the Middle East, Africa and Ukraine as he prayed for hope and peace. AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano

In this picture provided by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, tens of thousands attend as Pope Francis delivers his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and to the world) blessing from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Millions are expected to greet the Roman pontiff when he visits the Philippines from January 15 to 19, 2015. AP

MANILA, Philippines—Rain will likely accompany the visit of Pope Francis to Tacloban City on January 17, the weather bureau said yesterday.

Forecaster Alvin Pura, of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) told Inquirer.net that they expect rain over the Visayas during the scheduled trip there of the leader of the world’s one-billion Catholics.

Pura said rain would be brought by a low-pressure area (LPA) that is seen to sweep across the central Philippines later this week.

The LPA is currently over the Pacific Ocean, east of the Visayas, while moving north northwest towards Northern Samar and the Bicol Region, Pagasa said.

“It won’t be a drizzle, the LPA would bring rain,” Pura said Sunday. “We know that he will visit Visayas and that rain would fall on the area.”

The pontiff is scheduled to arrive at the Tacloban City airport at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and say Holy Mass near the airport thirty-minutes later.

His Holiness will then meet with survivors of Supertyphoon Yolanda and bless the Pope Francis Center for the Poor before flying back to Manila at 5 p.m.

Notwithstanding the expected wet weather in Leyte, Pura said Metro Manila would experience fair weather during Pope Francis’ stay.

“Metro Manila would have fair weather and the cold temperature would still continue because of the northeast monsoon,” Pura said. “What we are experiencing currently would be experienced during his stay.”

The Pope would be arriving in Manila on January 15 and have activities on the following day, and on January 18.

He is set to return to Rome at 10 a.m. on January 19.