Light rains to welcome New Year—Pagasa

Expect a drizzly New Year, especially in northern Luzon and in Mindanao, courtesy of the northeast monsoon and a low pressure area outside the Philippine area of responsibility, respectively. 

In its weather updaye yesterday, the state weather bureau said the northeast monsoon will continue to bring light rainfall over Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos, while clouds from a low pressure area 1,925 kilometers east-southeast of Mindanao will also bring light to moderate rains over Caraga and Davao.

But that would be the worst of it. According to Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)weather forecaster Samuel Duran, there is very little chance of the low pressure area entering the Philippine area of responsibility and developing into a tropical cyclone.

Due to the northeast monsoon, however, a gale warning has been hoisted over the coastlines of northern Luzon. Duran discouraged small vessels from taking to the seas in the areas of Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.

Metro Manila and other areas of the country may also experience isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, Pagasa said. (Jaymee T. Gamil)