PAGASA: Fair Weekend Weather Possible in Most Areas

Most of the country will likely experience generally fair weather this weekend.

Mornings may be sunny then while isolated rain showers and thunderstorms only are possible during afternoons and evenings, said weather forecaster Cris Perez from state-run Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

“There’s no weather system at present that can bring inclement weather to the country,” he said.

The low-pressure area (LPA) hovering east of the country this week won’t affect the weather as it is about to dissipate already, Perez noted.

He also said the tropical storm with international name Ma-on is still too far to affect the country and unlikely to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

However, northern Luzon may continue experiencing this weekend cloudiness and light rains due to the northeast monsoon or “amihan”.

In its 24-hour forecast released Friday morning, PAGASA said “amihan” is prevailing over Luzon, bringing partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains over Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Apayao and Cagayan provinces as well as Quezon province in eastern Luzon.

Strong to gale-force winds associated with “amihan” will likely affect the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon’s northernmost Batanes province, PAGASA continued.

Sea condition there can be rough to very rough with waves rising up to 4.5 meters high, PAGASA warned.

“Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” PAGASA said in its forecast.

PAGASA located ‘Ma-on’ at some 3,310 km east of Northern Luzon as of 4 a.m. Friday, packing maximum winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

‘Ma-on’ is expected to move westwards at 6 kph, PAGASA also said.

Perez cited the possibility of ‘Ma-on’ eventually moving northwest and missing PAR, however.

“That storm may not enter PAR,” he said. (PNA) JMC/CJT/EDS