Brace for rainy school opening — Pagasa

Rains will welcome public school students in many parts of the country as classes open next week, the state weather bureau warned yesterday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) continued to monitor two low-pressure areas that are forecast to develop into tropical cyclones in the next days and might trigger the onset of the rainy season.

Rene Paciente, chief of PAGASA’s marine meteorological services section, said some numerical prediction models used by the agency indicate the low- pressure area

off Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur might make landfall over eastern Luzon by midweek.

“The one in Hinatuan is more dangerous because it may hit landmass of eastern Luzon,” Paciente told The STAR.

As of yesterday afternoon, the weather disturbance was spotted at 635 kilometers east southeast of Hinatuan.

It is expected to develop into a cyclone by tomorrow or Monday.

“By Wednesday or Thursday it is expected to move closer to Bicol, particularly Catanduanes, then Isabela and Tuguegarao,” Paciente said, adding that the disturbance may reach typhoon category.

Meanwhile, Paciente said the other low-pressure area was located 380 km west northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

It is expected to develop into a cyclone as it leaves the Philippine area of responsibility in the next 24 to 48 hours, he said.

Paciente said the entry of the weather disturbance in the eastern Philippines could trigger the rain-bearing southwest monsoon, one of the criteria in declaring the start of the wet season.

“Maybe before the week ends we may declare the start of the rainy season,” he said.

In its special weather outlook for the opening of classes, PAGASA said occasional moderate to heavy rains will persist over Palawan, Mindoro and the western sections of the Visayas and Mindanao today until Monday.

The rest of the Visayas and Mindanao will have light to moderate rains, while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will continue to have warm and humid weather condition apart from some isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

Paciente said Metro Manila and other parts of Central Luzon may also experience rains from the brewing cyclone east of the country.

“If the low-pressure area over Hinatuan moves closer to eastern Luzon, Metro Manila and Central Luzon will also experience rains,” he said.