Pagasa: Rains may dampen New Year revelry

Rains caused by the northeast monsoon and the tail end of a cold front may dampen the New Year celebration in some parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

Tropical depression Usman, which has weakened into a low-pressure area after dumping almost a month’s worth of rain in some parts of Bicol region over the weekend, left the Philippine area of responsibility before noon yesterday.

Usman triggered flooding and landslides in Bicol and Eastern Visayas that killed at least 22 people. As of 11 a.m. yesterday, it was spotted at 580 kilometers southwest of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

PAGASA weather specialist Ariel Rojas said the low-pressure area has no effect on any part of the country although the northeast monsoon is expected to bring cloudy skies with light rains in most parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila. The rest of the country will have fair weather apart from isolated thunderstorms.

Rojas said Usman dumped almost a month’s worth of rain over Daet, Camarines Norte. The rainfall recorded in the area between Thursday and Friday was 573.2 millimeters, slightly below its monthly average of 588 mm.

In Legazpi City, the rainfall was recorded at 460.1 mm. Its normal rain for December was 520.2 mm.

Usman was the 21st cyclone to enter the Philippines in 2018.