Cloudy skies seen in parts of eastern Luzon, Visayas due to ITCZ

Source: Pagasa / DOST

MANILA, Philippines — Residents in the provinces located in eastern Luzon and Visayas can expect cloudy skies and occasional rains due to the prevailing intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), state meteorologists said on Wednesday.

According to the latest forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Wednesday afternoon, areas in Aurora, Quezon, Bicol Region, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and parts of Visayas and Mindanao will see isolated thunderstorms due to the cloud bands along the ITCZ.

Pagasa also noted that the agency is monitoring the tropical depression east of Luzon, as there is a possibility that it enters Philippine area of responsibility in the next 24 hours.  However, the weather disturbance is not expected to have any direct effect on the country.

The tropical depression was last located 1,510 kilometers east northeast of extreme northern Luzon.

“Hindi po natin inaalis ‘yong posibilidad na within 24 hours ay posible po itong pumasok sa ating PAR […] Kahit pumasok po ito sa ating PAR ay hindi po natin inaasahan na magkakaroon ng direktang epekto sa anumang bahagi ng ating bansa,” weather specialist Ana Clauren said.

(We are not discounting the possibility that the cyclone enters the PAR within 24 hours.  But even if it enters the PAR, we are not expecting it to have a direct effect in the country’s weather systems.)

Meanwhile, people in Metro Manila can expect weather to gradually get better after last weekend’s rain shower brought by past cyclones and the southwest monsoon.

But even if there is a high chance of rains in Bicol, and localized thunderstorms in the afternoon in Metro Manila, Legazpi and the capital region’s temperatures remain around 25 to 32 degrees Celsius, while it may be playing within 25 to 31 degrees in Puerto Princesa.

In Cebu and Iloilo, temperatures may range from 25 to 31 degrees Celsius, while Davao and Zamboanga may see warm and humid weather with temperatures peaking to 33 degrees.

Pagasa expects that partly cloudy to cloudy weather would continue until the weekend for Metro Manila and other areas, although isolated rain showers can continue to persist.

JPV