At around this time of year in the Philippines, the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan would be starting to de-escalate and fade while the Easterlies, winds from the Pacific Ocean, begin to bring warmth to the country towards the summer months. But it looks like the monsoon winds has not quite decided to quit just yet, so now the interaction with the strengthening Easterlies has made for anything from clouds in the sky, to a little bit of showers, to the formation of a low-pressure area that is being brought to bear towards the Mindanao island group that might bring heavier rains from Thursday to Friday.
This is the general forecast made by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as of this morning of Wednesday, March 4 according to CNN Philippines. The state weather bureau has been keeping an eye on a low-pressure area due 1,680 kilometers southeast of Mindanao that is being projected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as early as this evening. PAGASA weather specialist Rene Paciente notes that the LPA has not had time to develop into even a tropical depression, but has formed enough that its presence could trigger long rains in the southern part of the country, during March 5-6.
Then again, the national weather agency on its long-term forecast sees the possibility of only one significant weather disturbance forming for the month of March, if any at all. While the low-pressure area looks to be well-formed now, there is still the chance according to PAGASA that it might dissipate. Regardless, warnings of flash floods and landslides have been given to Mindanao and parts of Visayas that might be affected with the coming of the LPA. Elsewhere, Luzon finds itself divided in source of weather patterns, with the Amihan still doing its work in northern Luzon while Metro Manila and southern Luzon have the Easterlies.
Lastly, PAGASA estimates that the true onset of the hot Philippine summer season will not be until April. The appearances of cloudy skies, isolated rain showers and thunderstorms are helping keep things cool. For now, average temperatures in Metro Manila will not go under 23 or over 31 degrees Celsius.
Image courtesy of Inquirer.net
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