More rain seen over weekend

MANILA, Philippines—Friday’s continuous rain in Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon and parts of Visayas, spawned by La Niña weather phenomenon and the northeast monsoon, is a good indication of this weekend’s weather outlook: more rain.

“We should expect more rain during the weekend,’’ forecaster Aldczar Aurelio of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said in an interview.

Moderate to heavy rain lashed the metropolis, Central and Southern Luzon, and parts of the Visayas through most of Friday, triggering pockets of flooding and causing traffic gridlock in urban areas.

As the winds from the northeast (Amihan) converged with the winds from East (easterlies) in the eastern section of the archipelago, rain clouds been forming over sections of Luzon and the Visayas facing the Pacific Ocean, Aurelio said.

But it is La Niña that has formed a high pressure area over the Pacific Ocean and been driving the easterlies toward the archipelago, he said.

The Amihan (northeast monsoon), which is associated with cold and dry winds, and the easterlies, which are characterized by warm and moist winds, also spawn rain, but not as much as La Niña,  which brings above normal levels in this part of the globe, Aurelio said.

“So for Metro Manila, the rainfall is caused by the Amihan and La Niña, while in Visayas, it’s La Niña,’’ he said. “We’re now feeling the effects of La Niña.’’

A low pressure area, spotted 330 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa City around 2 a.m. Friday, was bringing rain to Palawan.

Because of La Niña, most parts of the country especially the eastern sections, would experience near to above normal rainfall conditions, Pagasa said, warning of possible flashfloods and landslides.

On Saturday, Central Luzon, including Metro Manila, Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, the weather bureau said.

Palawan and Eastern Visayas will be cloudy with widespread rains, while the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms.

“The weather will be better Monday,’’ Aurelio said. However, he added that it was too early to say whether this rainy weather would persist throughout December.