Pagasa says rain possible over parts of PH due to ITCZ

Weather satellite image from Pagasa’s website

MANILA, Philippines — Rain is highly possible in some parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao on Saturday due to a prevailing inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ), the state weather bureau said.

Based on the forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the ITCZ will bring high chances of rain in Palawan where occasionally strong showers may cause flooding and landslides.

The ITCZ was also seen to cause rain over the western and central portions of Visayas as well as several areas in Mindanao.

“‘Yung mga pag-ulan po natin sa ngayon, ITCZ po ang dahilan (The reason for the rains we are having right now is the ITCZ),” Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja said in a public report Saturday, adding that the low pressure area (LPA) outside the country’s area of responsibility which Pagasa has been monitoring since Thursday, May 18, has nothing to do with the occurrence of rain in the areas.

“Mag-ingat pa rin sa posibleng baha or landslides, lalo na sa Panay Island and Cebu,” he also said.

(Still be careful of possible floods or landslides, especially in Panay Island and Cebu.)

In Calabarzon, the rest of Mimaropa, the Bicol Region, Metro Manila, and Central Luzon, Pagasa said localized thunderstorms plus the southwesterly wind flow are expected to trigger thunderstorms throughout the day.

Localized thunderstorms will also affect portions of northern Luzon, particularly La Union, Pangasinan, and the southern portion of the Cordillera Region, according to the state weather service.

For the remainder of Luzon, Saturday afternoon until night time is anticipated to be cloudy amid localized thunderstorms.

But Pagasa cautioned that despite the rainfall and overcast skies, Luzon may still experience hot weather with indices likely exceeding 40°C this Saturday.

Meanwhile, Eastern Visayas may expect less frequent isolated rains from Saturday morning onwards.

Mindanao’s western portions, on the other hand, will be the most affected by the ITCZ, particularly the Bangsamoro region and Zamboanga Peninsula, Pagasa noted. The rest of the island will be partly cloudy although sun may peek occasionally, it added.

“Asahan pa rin natin ang makulimlim na panahon na sasamahan ng mahina hanggang katamtamang ulan at minsang lumalakas, lalo na po dito sa may Zamboanga del Norte,” Estareja said.

(Let’s still expect cloudy weather accompanied by light to moderate rain which at times may intensify, especially here near Zamboanga del Norte.)

Like Luzon, heat indices in Mindanao may surpass 40°C, especially in Davao and Butuan, according to Pagasa.

Below are the state weather bureau’s forecast temperature ranges in key cities/areas for May 20:

Luzon

• Metro Manila: 26 to 33 degrees Celsius
• Baguio City: 17 to 23 degrees Celsius
• Laoag City:  26 to 33 degrees Celsius
• Tuguegarao: 25 to 37 degrees Celsius
• Legazpi City: 25 to 33 degrees Celsius
• Puerto Princesa City: 26 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Tagaytay: 23 to 31 degrees Celsius
• Kalayaan Islands: 26 to 33 degrees Celsius

Visayas

• Iloilo City: 25 to 33 degrees Celsius
• Cebu: 27 to 33 degrees Celsius
• Tacloban City: 26 to 32 degrees Celsius

Mindanao

• Cagayan De Oro City: 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Zamboanga City: 25 to 33 degrees Celsius
• Davao City: 25 to 33 degrees Celsius

Finally, Pagasa said no sea travel suspensions are being enforced this Saturday since no gale warnings were raised over the country’s seaboards.

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