PAGASA: Expect cooler weather ahead

Expect cooler days ahead as the northeast monsoon or “amihan” season officially sets in. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had observed for the past several days the strengthening of strong to gale force northeasterly winds over the seaboards of Northern Luzon due to the high pressure system over Siberia.

It also noted the gradual cooling of the air temperature over the northeastern part of Luzon.

“These meteorological conditions indicate that the northeast monsoon season has started,” PAGASA Administrator Dr. Vicente Malano said.

“With these developments, the northeast wind flow is expected to further intensify and become dominant over most parts of the country, bringing cold and dry air,” he added.

Likewise, surges of cold temperatures may be expected, he said.

Today, the intertropical convergence zone, a breeding ground for tropical cyclones, will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Palawan, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Davao Occidental.

There is a possibility of lightning and scattered light to moderate with occasional heavy rains that may occur over these areas, PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, the northeasterly surface wind flow will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains over Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have cloudy to cloudy skies with possible isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms.