Rains expected over parts of Luzon due to cloud clusters — Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Several areas in Luzon, particularly Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, and Mimaropa are expected to experience rain due to cloud clusters, the weather bureau said on Thursday afternoon.

In its weather update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that the cloud clusters are due to the still prevalent northeast monsoon or amihan and the shear line that stretches towards the northern part of Bicol.

The rest of the country may experience a fair weather conditions, except for isolated rains and thunderstorms.

Pagasa said no weather disturbance is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility by the coming weekend, but a circulation far east of Mindanao is being monitored for possible developments.  Still, state meteorologists said there is a low chance of the cloud clusters intensifying into a tropical cyclone.

For Friday, Pagasa said that more areas are expected to experience cloudy skies and rains, up from the Cordillera Administrative Region down to Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

The cloudy conditions are seen to lower temperatures across Luzon save for Laoag and Puerto Princesa, which may register something between 20 to 30 degrees Celsius and 24 to 32 degrees, respectively.

As for Tuguegarao, temperatures would play between 20 to 28 degrees Celsius, Metro Manila with 23 to 29 degrees, Legazpi with 23 to 28 degrees, and Baguio and Tagaytay still cold at 13 to 23 degrees and 21 to 27 degrees.

For Visayas and Mindanao, weather would be generally fair but with a chance of isolated rains.  Temperatures in Cebu and Tacloban would range from 25 to 31 degrees Celsius, 25 to 30 degrees in Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro with 23 to 30 degrees, Zamboanga with 23 to 33 degrees, and Davao with 24 to 30 degrees.

Meanwhile, a gale warning remains raised over the waters off Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern coastlines of Ilocos Norte and Cagayan due to the northeast monsoon.  Fisherfolk and small boat operators in the area are advised not to set sail as sea conditions may be rough to very rough.