Expect cloudy skies in huge part of Luzon due to ‘habagat,’ TS Julian

MANILA, Philippines — Huge parts of Luzon can expect cloudy skies over the weekend due to the prevailing southwest monsoon, while eastern parts of Central and Southern Luzon may see rains due to Tropical Storm Julian.

Latest forecasts from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) showed that “Julian” was last spotted 880 kilometers east of Tuguegarao, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

It is moving at a west-northwest pattern at a speed of 15 kph.

Pagasa said that “Julian” is not expected to intensify the southwest monsoon or Habagat as of now, which means that the weather would tend to be more on cloudy than rainy. Rains that would be experienced in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, remaining parts of Central and Southern Luzon would be due to monsoon rains.

However, Julian’s stay in the Philippine sea would take some time, which means that it may build up strength from staying above water.  It is seen to become a severe tropical storm by Saturday afternoon, when it moves to 875 kilometers east of Aparri in Cagayan.

By Sunday, it would be a typhoon although its direction would shift northwards, and then eventually reaching the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) border by Monday afternoon.

It is expected to be completely out of PAR by Tuesday afternoon, moving towards China’s southeastern part.  Despite these possible developments, Julian is not expected to cause high impact weather in the country, primarily due to its predicted track where it would not make landfall.

Raising of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals are also not expected.

For Saturday, temperatures in Metro Manila are expected to get colder after a streak of warm days, ranging from 26 to 30 degrees Celsius, while it may only peak at 29 degrees in Laoag and Tagaytay, and 31 degrees in Legazpi.

Warm and humid weather are more likely to persist in Visayas and Mindanao, with temperatures in Tacloban, Cebu, and Iloilo playing between 26 to 32 degrees Celsius, 25 to 34 degrees in Davao, and 24 to 32 degrees in Zamboanga.

Gale warnings have been removed as of now but Pagasa warns fisherfolk and boat transfer operators using small boats to take precaution, as sea condition over northern and western seaboards of Luzon may range from moderate to rough.

EDV