Generally fair weather in PH seen until Jan. 1

MANILA, Philippines — After a final destructive typhoon and massive floods that lasted until last week, the country will have generally fair weather until the end of the year.

The country will be free of weather disturbances this week until New Year’s Day, January 1, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The state weather bureau said Sunday that most of the country would have fair weather except for isolated rain showers and thunderstorms especially over the eastern section of the country.
Northern Luzon however will continue to have light rains in the final week of the year, according to PAGASA.

The prevailing northeast monsoon would bring light rains over the Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan islands while the tail-end of a cold front would bring light to moderate rains and isolated thundertorms over Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao and Ilocos Norte provinces, PAGASA said.

On Monday, December 28, the Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Caraga regions, which were affected by back-to-back cyclones two weeks ago, will have light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms.

The country had 15 tropical cyclones this year, including two powerful typhoons that hit during the last quarter of the year as a particularly strong El Niño episode peaked.

Just when the country thought typhoons have ceased, Typhoon Nona (international name Melor) made landfall over central Philippines last December 14 and 15 and devastated Northern Samar provinces and the Bicol and Mimaropa regions.

It was immediately followed by intense monsoon rains that caused widespread floods in central and northern Luzon, exacerbated by the opening of the Angat and Magat dams that spilled over after months in a dry spell.

Typhoon Nona left at least 42 people dead with four others feared dead and damage to property and farms of at least P6.4 billion, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Before Nona’s exit, Tropical Depression Onyok brought heavy rains over eastern and northern Mindanao last December 17 and 18 before it diminished into a low pressure area.

But the strongest cyclone to hit the country this year was Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu), which reached maximum winds of about 185 kilometers per hour when it slammed into northern and central Luzon from October 18 to 20.

Typhoon Lando left at least 47 people dead and damage of at least P9.8 billion.

Like Nona, Typhoon Lando also significantly increased the depleted water level of dams in Luzon including Angat Dam, from which Metro Manila gets most of its water supply.  SFM