PHL Remains Storm-free Until End of January -PAGASA

(PNA) — The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Thursday the country will remain storm-free until the end of January.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that no weather disturbance is seen near the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) that may develop into a tropical cyclone within the next two to three days.

He noted that the next tropical cyclone that will affect the country will be locally named “Betty.”

Aurelio said the northeast monsoon continues to be the dominant weather system affecting Luzon.

The cold northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan” is the cold winds associated is expected to bring partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated light rains in Luzon including Metro Manila.

”The effect of northeast monsoon concentrates will bring cold mornings in some parts of Luzon including Metro Manila and the northeast monsoon usually peaks from mid-January to mid-February,” he told the Philippines News Agency (PNA).

He added it starts blowing into the country from Siberia every mid-October and strengthens every mid-December.

“So, the public should expect chillier mornings in the coming weeks,” he noted.

The minimum temperature in Metro Manila on Thursday morning was recorded at 20.1 degrees Celsius at 6 a.m. which is lower compared to Wednesday’s minimum temperature at 22.5 degrees Celsius.

Metro Manila’s temperature readings are being recorded daily in the vicinity of the PAGASA Science Garden in Diliman, Quezon City between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.

The 18.1 degrees Celsius recorded last Tuesday in Metro Manila is so far the lowest for this year.

PAGASA said the all-time lowest temperature recorded in Metro Manila was at 14.9 degrees Celsius on March 1,1963.

Aurelio said Baguio City, the country’s summer capital, continue to experience chilly temperature on Thursday, that will range from 13 to 22 degrees Celsius.

He said the minimum temperature on Wednesday in Baguio was recorded at 13.0 degrees Celsius.

The lowest temperature for this year recorded in Baguio at 10.4 degress Celsius on Tuesday morning.

For Thursday forecast, PAGASA said due to northeast monsoon the Eastern Visayas, the Regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Bicol and the Provinces of Aurora and Quezon will experience cloudy skies with light rains.

It added the rest of Luzon including Metro Manila will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated light rains while the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA also said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and the Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast with slight to moderate seas. (PNA) FPV/CLTC