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.

Ridge of high pressure area, easterlies affecting PH – Pagasa

By Arlie O. Calalo, Manila Times

GENERALLY-fair weather is expected over the next 24 hours across the country due to the ridge of the high pressure area (HPA) and easterlies which both bring hot temperatures and warm, humid conditions, the state-run-weather agency said on Wednesday.

Weather forecaster Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) stressed that there is no summer but only a warm-dry season in the country.

Filipinos are used to saying it is the summer season during the months of March, April and May since these are the hottest months in the Philippines.

But state meteorologists would always refer to this period as the dry season.

Estareja said the ridge of HPA, which is in the north Pacific Ocean, is now extending over Northern and Central Luzon.

Pagasa said the ridge refers to the extended part of an HPA or an anticyclone.

"An opposite of the low pressure area, HPA indicates an area where the atmospheric pressure is higher than its surroundings. Formation of clouds is usually suppressed, thus, less chance of rains," the state weather bureau said.

Meanwhile, the easterlies -- winds coming from the east, passing through the Pacific Ocean, bringing warm and humid weather to the country – and localized thunderstorms are bringing partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

Now that the country is in the warm-dry season, isolated rain showers and thunderstorms can still be expected, especially during late afternoon and at night, according to Estareja.