Hot weather to persist due to easterlies, ridge of high pressure area

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

Jul 7, 2023 09:08 AM

  

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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, July 7 said most of the country may continue to experience hot and humid weather due to the prevalence of the easterlies and ridge of high pressure area (HPA).

“Most of the country will experience generally sunny weather with hot and humid temperatures, especially around noon,” PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said.

He said the easterlies, or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean, may bring hot and humid weather to Visayas and Mindanao, but may also bring localized thunderstorms.

Aside from the easterlies, Estareja added that the ridge or extension of an HPA, which produces fewer clouds, resulting in less rain and more direct exposure, may also affect most of Northern and Central Luzon.

The HPA is an “anti-cyclone” weather system.

Only the southern portion of Palawan may continue to experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), a convergence of winds coming from the northern and southern hemispheres where rain-bearing clouds form.

(PIXABAY)

Based on the PAGASA’s extended weather outlook for key areas from July 8 to 11, maximum air temperatures may range from 34 to 36 degrees Celsius (℃) in Metro Manila, 36 to 37℃ in Tuguegarao City, 25 to 26℃ in Baguio City, 32 to 33℃ in Laoag City, 31 to 32℃ in Tagaytay City, 32 to 33℃ in Legazpi City, 31 to 32℃ in Metro Cebu, 32 to 33℃ in Metro Davao, and 34 to 35℃ in Zamboanga City.

Estareja urged the public to bring heat protection when going outside.

Meanwhile, he noted that a new cloud formation along the ITCZ was monitored approaching Mindanao, which may affect Visayas and Mindanao in the coming week.

Estareja said that while PAGASA does not anticipate a tropical cyclone entering the PAR in the coming days, a shallow low pressure area (LPA) may form within the ITCZ.

He added that while the potential LPA may enter the PAR, the likelihood of it becoming a tropical cyclone is still low.