Storm Free Until Weekend; ITCZ to Bring Rains in Visayas, Mindanao

(PNA) — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Friday said the country will continue to be spared from storms in the next two to three days.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Chris Perez said they are not anticipating any cyclone to affect the country until Sunday.

He said most parts of Luzon including Metro Manila will continue to have sunny to partly cloudy skies with possible afternoon or evening rains because of the localized thunderstorms for the next three days.

Until Sunday, Perez said Visayas and Mindanao will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with passing light to moderate rains due to the effects of Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

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.

He added the tropical cyclone outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has a slim chance to enter but they continue to monitor it.

Once it enters the country it will be locally named “Jenny”, the 10th tropical cyclone for this year and first for this month.

For Friday forecast, PAGASA said the ITCZ will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms over Bicol region, Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao and the province of Palawan.

It added that except for isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening, fair weather will prevail over the rest of Luzon.

PAGASA said light to moderate winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the southwest over Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

The state weather bureau did not issue a gale warning as the fisherfolk are safe to venture into the seas. (PNA) JBP/CLTC