ITCZ Brings Light Rains Over Visayas, Mindanao

Except in Visayas and Mindanao, most parts of the country will experience partly cloudy skies with possible isolated rains in the afternoon or evening due to localized thunderstorms or convections, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Monday.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will be the dominant weather system affecting Visayas and Mindanao.

ITCZ, which is the thick clouds coming from the south of Asia, is considered a breeding ground for low-pressure areas (LPAs) or potential cyclones.

Aurelio said the southwest monsoon or “hangin habagat” has weakened.

For Monday forecast, due to ITCZ, he said Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Aurelio said most parts of Luzon including Metro Manila will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, Aurelio said the country is expected to be storm-free in the next three days.

He said PAGASA is not seeing any weather disturbance near the Philippine territory that may intensify into a cyclone for the next two to three days.

Next month, he said the state weather bureau is expecting three to four storms to hit the country.

Every year, an average of about 18 to 20 storms affect the Philippines, according to the PAGASA.

In its advisory, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds coming from the southwest to south will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

It added light to moderate winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas. (PNA) JBP/CLTC