PAGASA: Rainy weather to continue until Dec. 25

Christmas weekend is seen to be cyclone-free, but the current weather systems may still bring rains to some parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday, December 22.

PAGASA said in a special weather outlook for the Christmas holidays that the northeast monsoon or “amihan,” easterlies, and shear line will be the dominant weather systems in the country.

From December 22 to 26, mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected over the eastern section of Luzon due to the shear line – a weather system formed by the convergence of cold northeasterly winds and warm easterly winds.

Meanwhile, the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy with isolated light rains because of the northeast monsoon.

Isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the warm easterly winds from the Pacific Ocean may affect Visayas and Mindanao.

From December 27 to 31, the shear line may bring rain showers and thunderstorms to Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, and Northeastern Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Luzon will have partly cloudy skies with isolated light monsoon rains.

The rest of Visayas and Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the easterlies.

On New Year’s Day, mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may prevail over the eastern section of Luzon because of the shear line, while the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy with isolated light rains caused by the amihan.

Visayas and Mindanao continue to have fair weather with only isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the easterlies. (Ellalyn Ruiz)