Easterlies, ‘Amihan’ Bring Light Rains on Monday

Two weather systems now affecting the country will bring light rains on Monday, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In its advisory, PAGASA said northeast monsoon now affects extreme Northern Luzon while easterlies prevail in the eastern section of the country.

Easterlies or winds from the east will bring sunny to cloudy skies with possible isolated rains due to localized thunderstorm or convection while northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan” is the cold wind from China and Siberia that blows into the country from late October until mid-February. It is usually associated with the Christmas season.

For Monday forecast, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Bicol region, Eastern and Central Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Zamboanga Peninsula and the province of Quezon while cloudy skies with light rains is expected over Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan group of islands.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

It added moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Northern Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the east to northeast with slight to moderate seas.

The state weather bureau issued gale warning due to the effects of the northeast monsoon as the sea condition would be rough to very rough due to strong to gale force winds expected to affect the northern seaboards of Northern Luzon.

“Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned. (PNA) JBP/CLTC