Pagasa monitors cloud clusters in Mindanao

By Arlie O. Calalo, Manila Times

February 5, 2024

THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Monday said it is monitoring cloud clusters that could bring rain in Mindanao in the next 24 hours.

Weather specialist Robert Badrina said however, that these cloud formations were unlikely to develop into a low pressure area.

"Based on Pagasa's data and analysis, there is no storm that would likely form or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility until over the weekend," he said, adding that most parts of the country will have fair weather.

In its 5 a.m. advisory, Pagasa said that the easterlies and northeast monsoon locally known as "amihan" are affecting the eastern section of the country and extreme Northern Luzon.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to overcast skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

PH may experience first storm in Feb, to be named 'Aghon' – Pagasa

By Arlie O. Calalo, Manila Times

February 1, 2024 

MANILA, Philippines: The country may experience its first storm of the year in February, that is if the low pressure rea (LPA) spotted in the vicinity of General Santos City would intensify into a tropical depression as it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the state-run weather bureau said on Thursday.

Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja said that once the tropical cyclone enters the country, it will be named "Aghon."

As of posting time, the LPA is some 195 southwest of General Santos City. Estareja said, however, that the LPA has a "very slim chance of intensifying into a tropical depression and entering PAR in the coming days." However, its trough or extension is affecting areas in Mindanao and Visayas where scattered to widespread rains and thunderstorms would be likely over the next 24 hours, the state weather bureau said in its 5 a.m. advisory.

The northeast monsoon or "amihan" is bringing partly cloudy to overcast skies with isolated light rains over Luzon, including Metro Manila, Estareja said.

"It would still be generally fair weather in most parts of Luzon except for scattered downpours and thunderstorms in the afternoon or at night," Estareja said.

PH storm-free until weekend – Pagasa

y Arlie O. Calalo

January 18, 2024

MANILA, Philippines: The state-run weather agency said on Thursday that it has not monitored any tropical cyclone or low pressure area forming or entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) until over the weekend.

"It would be another generally fair weather in most parts of the country except for isolated or scattered downpours and thunderstorms in the afternoon or at night," weather specialist Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Citing the agency's data and analysis, the Pagasa forecaster said there would be no storm inside or outside PAR at least until weekend.

He said the shear line –where the hot and cold air converge – will continue to dump rain, especially in the eastern section of Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Pagasa in its 5 a.m. advisory said the northeast monsoon or "amihan" is affecting Luzon, including Metro Manila and the Visayas where overcast skies with isolated light rain may prevail over the next 24 hours.

The state weather bureau said the rest of Mindanao would likely have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered rain showers or thunderstorms due to the localized thunderstorms.

LPA likely to enter PH Saturday – Pagasa

By Arlie O. Calalo

December 14, 2023 20

MANILA, Philippines: The cloud clusters outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) have developed into a low pressure area (LPA) which would possibly enter the country on Saturday, the state-run weather agency said on Thursday. Weather specialist Patrick del Mundo of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the LPA was last spotted some 1, 865 kilometers east of Southeastern Mindanao (outside PAR).

"It (LPA) has still a low chance to intensify into a tropical depression over the next two days but it may enter PAR over the weekend or on Saturday in particular," Del Mundo said.

In the meantime, Pagasa said the northeast monsoon, locally known as "amihan," is affecting Luzon, including Metro Manila where isolated light rains may prevail especially in the afternoon or at night. On one hand, the easterlies are affecting the rest of the country, the state weather bureau said. "Generally, the country would have fair weather conditions over the next 24 hours," according to the Pagasa forecaster.

Low Pressure Area to enter PAR, likely to develop into tropical depression

 

By Arlie O. Calalo

November 13, 2023 

MANILA, Philippines: THE low pressure area (LPA) spotted outside the country will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) anytime today and may intensify into a tropical depression, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Monday.

Weather specialist Robert "Obet" Badrina said the LPA was last spotted 1,400 kilometers east of north-eastern Mindanao.

"It would likely enter PAR in 24 hours and the potential for this weather disturbance to become a tropical depression was high," Badrina said.

He said the agency has yet to issue a forecast track as it is possible that its direction would change in the coming days.

Pagasa said that the shear line where the hot and cold air converge is affecting Southern Luzon.

The northeast monsoon or "amihan" meanwhile is affecting Northern and Central Luzon.

It will bring overcast skies with isolated light rains in Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Ilocos Region, the rest of Central Luzon and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated downpour and thunderstorms.

Weather cyclone outside PH intensifies into tropical storm

By Arlie O. Calalo

July 28, 2023 20

THE state-run weather agency on Friday said the tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has developed into a tropical storm called "Khanun."

In a 5 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Khanun was estimated at 1,315 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80kph, it is moving west-southwestward at 15kph, Pagasa said.

Based on its forecast track, the tropical cyclone may enter PAR between late Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

Once inside PAR, the domestic name "Falcon" will be assigned to this tropical cyclone, the state weather bureau said.

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It will be the sixth storm to hit the country this year and the third this month, it added.

Likely to continuously intensify within the next five days, it may further escalate into a typhoon late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning.

"However, the hoisting of storm signals over any portion of the country due to this tropical cyclone is unlikely," Pagasa said.

Moreover, Pagasa said this may enhance the southwest monsoon locally known as "habagat," which will trigger occasional or monsoon rains across the country particularly over the western portions of Luzon and Visayas.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said that all storm signals have been lifted as Typhoon "Egay" exited PAR as it entered the Taiwan Strait and headed for Fujian, China.

LPA may develop into tropical depression, to be named 'Egay'– Pagasa

 

By Arlie O. Calalo

July 19, 2023 10

THE low pressure area (LPA) off Surigao del Sur has a greater chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next two days and be named "Egay."

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5 a.m. advisory, however, that even if the weather disturbance will intensify into a storm it will still have no direct effect in the country.

The inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ), where the LPA is embedded, causes rain in most parts of the archipelago, according to weather specialist Obet Badrina.

He said the LPA, some 710 kilometers east of Hinatuan, also in the same province, along with ITCZ, is affecting Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Bohol, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro where overcast skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail.

The ITCZ – an imaginary line where the air coming from the northern and southern hemisphere meets – and localized thunderstorms are bringing partly cloudy skies to cloudy skies with occasional downpour or thunderstorms over Metro Manila and the rest of the country within 24 hours, Pagasa said.

15 areas under Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression 'Dodong' makes landfall in Isabela

By Arlie O. Calalo

AT least 15 provinces in Luzon have been placed under Signal No. 1, including Isabela where Tropical Depression "Dodong" made its first landfall, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Friday.

Under storm alert are Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, the northern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, San Manuel, Sison, San Fabian, Pozorrubio, Bolinao, Bani, City of Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Agno, Binmaley, Dagupan City, San Jacinto, Mangaldan and Anda), the northern and central portions of Aurora (Maria Aurora, San Luis, Baler, Dipaculao, Dinalungan, Casiguran and Dilasag) and Isabela.

Moving west-northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph), Dodong has maximum sustained winds of 45kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55kph, the state-run weather agency said.

Forecast to cross the rugged landmass of Northern Luzon within the day, the tropical depression may initially track northwestward or north northwestward over Cagayan Valley for the next six hours before turning more west northwestward or westward and emerging over the waters west of Ilocos Region.

"Afterwards, Dodong will continue moving generally northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday or Sunday," Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

Dodong may reach tropical storm category by late Saturday or early Sunday as it moves out of the PAR, the state weather bureau said.

Meanwhile, the tropical depression and the enhanced southwest monsoon or "habagat' may bring moderate to rough seas over the eastern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.

Pagasa has advised mariners of small sea craft to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea.

"If inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels, avoid navigating in these conditions," the bulletin said.

'Habagat' resurfaces, enhances LPA over Visayas, Mindanao, Southern Luzon

By Arlie O. Calalo

July 12, 2023 

THE southwest monsoon locally known as "habagat" has re-emerged and is now enhancing the low pressure area (LPA) off Catanduanes, bringing rain over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Weather specialist Obet Badrina of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the LPA was last spotted past 3 a.m. some 510kilometers east-northeast of Virac, also in the same province.

"It has still a slim chance to develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours but we have not yet ruled out its possibility of intensifying in the coming days," Badrina said.

Along with LPA, the southwest monsoon is affecting the western sections of Visayas and Mindanao, Pagasa said.

In particular, the LPA and habagat are bringing overcast skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Bicol Region, Mimaropa (Mindoro. Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) and Quezon.

The state-run weather agency said the localized thunderstorms are affecting Metro Manila and the rest of the country where partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated downpours and thunderstorms will be experienced in 24 hours.

Cloud formations outside PAR likely to develop into LPA – Pagasa

By Arlie O. Calalo

July 11, 2023

THE Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Tuesday that it is closely monitoring cloud clusters outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) which may develop into a low pressure area (LPA).

Then there is likelihood that the LPA will enter PAR within 24 hours, according to weather specialist Obet Badrina.

The Pagasa forecaster said that the southwest monsoon locally known as "habagat" is expected to resurface in the coming days which will bring the usual rain particularly in western parts of the country.

Over Luzon, the state-run weather agency said it will have hot and humid temperatures except for occasional downpours and thunderstorms in the afternoon or at night.

In the meantime, Badrina said the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is affecting Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao.

It's another hot, humid Sunday

By Arlie O. Calalo

July 9, 2023 30

It will be a hot and humid Sunday as the easterlies will continue to prevail, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Weather specialist Daniel James Villamil said the easterlies, winds coming from the east that pass through the Pacific Ocean and bring warm and humid weather, will prevail in most parts of the country especially in Luzon.

Along with the inter-tropical convergence zone, an imaginary line where the air from the northern and southern hemisphere meet, the weather system will bring overcast skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Masbate and Sorsogon.

"We can expect hot, humid weather especially in Luzon areas although isolated downpour and thunderstorms will be likely in the afternoon or at night," Villamil said.

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

7 weather systems to bring above normal rain, 2 to 4 storms in July

By Arlie O. Calalo

July 5, 2023 10

AT least seven weather systems will likely affect the country aside from two to four tropical cyclones that may enter or develop inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) during the month of July, the state-run weather agency said on Wednesday.

Dra. Esperanza Cayanan, officer-in-charge, of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa), told The Manila Times that based on their weather outlook, the rainfall forecast for the month shows that generally near to above normal conditions will be likely experienced in most parts of Luzon and Visayas.

"However, near normal rainfall event is expected in Mindanao except Davao del /sur which will likely be below normal," Cayanan said.

Pagasa said the weather systems are the easterlies, localized thunderstorms, intertropical convergence zone, low pressure areas, high pressure areas, southwest monsoon and shear line.

Generally, the Pagasa official said, near average to above average surface air temperatures are predicted in most parts of Luzon and Mindanao while most parts of Visayas will likely have near to below average temperature.

She said the predicted temperatures are as follows: 13.5 degree Celsius to 26 degree Celsius over the mountainous areas of Luzon, 16.9 degree Celsius to 38.8 degree Celsius for the rest of Luzon; 19.6 degree Celsius to 36.5 degree Celsius in the Visayas, 16.0 degree Celsius to 33.0 degree Celsius over the mountainous areas of Mindanao, 20.7 degree Celsius to 38.4 degree Celsius over the rest of Mindanao and 22.2 degree Celsius to 36.4 degree Celsius to 36.4 degree Celsius in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, she said Pagasa will continue monitoring the El Nino phenomenon marked by dry spells and droughts.

Rainy days in Visayas and Mindanao

By Arlie O. Calalo

June 26, 2023

THE inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) where a low pressure area (LPA) has been embedded continues to bring rain and thunderstorms especially in Visayas, Mindanao and Southern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) said.

Weather specialist Obet Badrina said the LPA, which was 500 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, had a slim chance of turning into a tropical depression.

"In fact, it may just reduce into cloud clusters in the coming days," Badrina said.

The ITCZ, an imaginary line where the air coming from the northern and southern hemisphere meets, is affecting Visayas, MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Bicol Region, Aurora and Quezon.

Landslides or flash floods are possible in these areas due to moderate and at times heavy rains, the Pagasa forecaster said.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated downpour and thunderstorms.

Pagasa sees 10 to 15 cyclones this year amid El Niño

By Arlie O. Calalo

June 5, 2023 10

The El Niño phenomenon is likely to occur late this month or by July but some areas in the country, particularly Luzon including Metro Manila, may experience above normal rainfall conditions, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Monday.

The weather bureau said that 10 to 15 tropical cyclones may enter or form within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) from June to October this year.

Weather specialist Benison Estareja said the onset of the wet season does not mean that there would be rain all the time during this period.

"We have this what we call monsoon breaks wherein we can experience cloudy but hot weather due to the absence of the southwest monsoon," Estareja said.

He said that despite the onset of El Niño, which leads to dry spells and droughts, some areas may also have above normal rainfall.

"In fact during the third quarter of the year, it is possible that the country will experience strong typhoons and heavy rainfall and only on the last months of the year and first quarter of 2024 that we may experience less rainfall," the Pagasa forecaster said.

El Niño is a weather condition characterized by unusually warmer than average sea surface temperatures at the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.

Citing Pagasa's monitoring track, Estareja said some of the tropical cyclones may make landfall in Luzon and Visayas while others may enhance the southwest monsoon specifically in the western part of the country.

In the next 24 hours, the weather agency said the southwest monsoon will affect the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon.

Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Palawan will likely have overcast skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

The southwest monsoon and localized thunderstorms, meanwhile, will prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of the country where partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated downpour and thunderstorms may be experienced, the weather bureau said.

Typhoon likely to enter Friday, to be called 'Betty'

By Arlie O. Calalo

THE state-run weather agency said on Tuesday that Typhoon "Mawar" (international name) will likely be the second tropical cyclone that will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday and will have its domestic name: "Betty."

Weather specialist Grace Castaneda of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the typhoon was last spotted some 2, 300 kilometers east of Visayas outside PAR.

Moving at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), it has maximum sustained winds of 155kph near the center and gustiness of up to 190kph, Pagasa said.

Citing Pagasa's monitoring track, Mawar, forecast to become a super typhoon, may enter PAR either Friday night or Saturday morning.

"But at the moment, it has no direct effect in the country," she said.

In the meantime, the Pagasa forecaster said the southwesterly wind flow is affecting the western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao over the next 24 hours.

The weather system, along with the localized thunderstorms, is bringing partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over Metro Manila and the rest of the country, the state weather bureau said.

PH hot, humid as 2 LPAs dissipate

Guests cool off at an indoor pool resort in in Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City on Sunday, May 07, 2023.  PHOTO BY ISMAEL DE JUAN

By Arlie O. Calalo

The country will be hot and humid in the next 24 hours except in some areas where there will be occasional downpour and thunderstorms, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) said on Monday.

The two low pressure areas (LPAs) being monitored outside and inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) have dissipated, weather specialist James Daniel Villamil told The Manila Times.

"So it would be again a generally fair weather condition all over the country except for scattered rain showers and thunderstorms during late afternoon or nighttime in some areas," Villamil said.

He said the easterlies, winds coming from the Pacific Ocean that bring warm and humid temperature, are affecting especially the eastern section of the country.

Metro Manila will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.

Heat index likely to hit 40 C in Metro Manila – Pagasa

April 28, 2023 20

 

By Arlie O. Calalo

WITH the easterlies expected to bring hot, humid weather across the country, residents especially in Metro Manila may experience as high as 40 degrees Celsius heat index on Friday, according to the state-run weather agency.

Weather specialist Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reminded the public anew that going outdoors, especially during noontime and early afternoon when the heat is most intense must be limited.

"But if it is really necessary, make sure to cover your body against the sun and keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water to avoid heat cramps and heat exhaustion, among others," he told The Manila Times.

Other areas like Tuguegarao City, Dagupan City, Cabanatuan City, Laoag City, Legazpi City and San Jose (Mindoro) will also experience even higher heat index, Pagasa said.

Although weather disturbance is unlikely until Labor Day, May 1, the state weather bureau said the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) spotted near the Mindanao area may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility over the weekend or on the first day of May.

"This may bring rain showers over the eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao where a low pressure area may be formed within the ITCZ," Estareja said.

ITCZ, according to Pagasa, is an imaginary line where the northern and southern air meet and bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

In particular, Pagasa said that Metro Manila and the rest of the country will likely have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with occasional downpours and thunderstorms due to the easterlies and localized thunderstorms.

Pagasa monitors tropical cyclone outside PAR

By Arlie O. Calalo

THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Sunday that it is monitoring an active tropical cyclone outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR)

It was moving westward and had maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 55kph.

Weather forecaster Grace Castaneda said most parts of the country will have cloudy skies but the weather will remain hot and humid in the next 24 hours.

"There would only be occasional rain showers and thunderstorms that may occur during late afternoon or at night," she told The Manila Times.

Castaneda said the easterlies or winds coming from the Pacific Ocean that bring warm and humid temperatures are affecting the eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao.

It's now hot and humid weather after the rain--Pagasa

By Arlie O. Calalo

April 14, 2023 20

A combination of hot and humid weather will prevail in most parts of the Philippines in the coming days, after almost a week of rain caused by Tropical Depression "Amang", the state-run weather bureau said on Friday.

Weather specialist Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the remnant circulation of Amang, which was some 40 kilometers southwest of Iba, Zambales, will still bring rain in some areas in Luzon.

"But with no weather disturbance being monitored that may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in the coming days, we are back with hot and humid weather conditions in most parts of the country," Estareja said.

The Pagasa weatherman said the low pressure area (LPA), formerly Amang, may dissipate in the next few hours.

The LPA is bringing overcast skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales and Bataan, the state weather bureau said.

Along with the localized thunderstorms, the same weather disturbance is affecting the rest of the country where partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms may be likely within 24 hours, Pagasa said.

New LPA spotted east of Mindanao — Pagasa

By Arlie O. Calalo

April 7, 2023 

A new low pressure area (LPA) has been spotted outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and may enter the country over the weekend, the state-run weather agency said on Friday.

The LPA some 1, 620 kilometers east of Southern Mindanao, has a slim chance of developing into a tropical depression even if it is already inside the PAR, according to weather forecaster Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

"By Monday, the weather disturbance will likely be over east of Mindanao before it goes to the direction of Caraga Region and by Tuesday until Thursday, this would pass through Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region until it crosses Central and Northern Luzon before it exits towards the Philippine Sea by Friday," Estareja said.

But another scenario, according to the Pagasa weatherman, is that the LPA may remain over east of Visayas over the forecast period before crossing east of Luzon from Tuesday until Thursday until it exits the PAR.

"So we'll continue monitoring the movement of this LPA outside PAR," he said.

Over the next 24 hours, the state weather bureau said the ridge or extension of the high pressure area (HPA) is affecting Northern Luzon.

"It means there would be less chance of rain showers and thunderstorms in this area, instead there would be hot and humid weather that may prevail," Estareja said.

Although there would be a generally-fair weather condition over Metro Manila and the rest of the country, Pagasa said these areas may still experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the localized thunderstorms particularly during late afternoon or at night.