Southwest monsoon to bring isolated rain over western part of Luzon, Visayas

Pagasa weather satellite image

MANILA, Philippines — The western portions of Luzon and Visayas will likely see cloud clusters and experience isolated rains from Tuesday night through Wednesday due to the southwest monsoon or habagat, the state weather service said.

Satellite images from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Tuesday showed thick clouds surrounding Luzon and Visayas, and over the eastern waters of Mindanao.

Outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), Pagasa is still monitoring the weather disturbance that has evolved into a tropical storm that packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph.

It was last seen 1,965 kilometers east of Southern Luzon, moving northwest at a speed of 20 kph.  While the tropical storm may still intensify, state meteorologists do not expect it to enter the PAR, as it will bypass the country’s northeastern seas.

Temperatures in Luzon on Wednesday will be between 22 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees Celsius. Specifically, Laoag will experience a climate of 24 to 31 degrees Celsius; Tagaytay, 22 to 31 degrees Celsius, Puerto Princesa, 25 to 31 degrees Celsius; Legazpi, 26 to 32 degrees Celsius; Tuguegarao, 25 to 37 degrees Celsius; and Metro Manila, 26 to 33 degrees Celsius.

Pagasa said precipitation is highly possible in Metro Manila,  Legazpi, and Tuguegarao by Wednesday afternoon and night.

On the other hand, weather will be generally fair in the Visayas and Mindanao, according to the state weather bureau. It said Iloilo and Cebu will have temperatures of 25 to 32 degrees Celsius; Tacloban, 26 to 32 degrees Celsius; Zamboanga and Davao, 24 to 34 degrees Celsius; and Çagayan de Oro, 24 to 33 degrees Celsius.

Pagasa further said it did not raise any gale warning for now although it warned seafarers and fisherfolk that sea conditions in the Ilocos Region and extreme northern Luzon will be moderate to rough because of the southwest monsoon.

Sea conditions for other parts of Luzon and the eastern coast of Visayas will be moderate, and the rest of the country will be slight to moderate.

KGA