Trough of LPA Brings Rains over E. Visayas, Mindanao on Monday — PAGASA

Manila (PNA) — Expect light to moderate rainshowers over parts of Visayas and Mindanao on Monday due to weather disturbance outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Chris Perez said that due to trough or extended cloudiness of the low pressure area (LPA), it will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers in Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Davao Region.

He said the weather bureau continues to monitor the LPA which is expected to enter the country by Thursday.

Perez said there are three scenarios on the LPA — first it will recurve, second it will dissipate and third it may intensify into tropical cyclone and may affect the Eastern Visayas.

Once it intensifies into tropical depression inside the country, it will be locally named “Amang”.

Asked if the arrival of Pope Francis in Eastern Visayas will experience rains, Perez said definitely it will have rains due to the weather disturbance.

Pope Francis is set to visit the Philippines from January 15 to 19, 2015, to meet earthquake and typhoon survivors in the Visayas.

Meanwhile, Perez said Northeast Monsoon continues to be the dominant weather system affecting Luzon.

He said with the presence of northeast monsoon, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera will have cloudy skies with light rains while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated light rains.

The rest of Visayas and Mindanao will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

The state weather bureau issued gale warning as strong to gale force winds associated with the surge of northeast monsoon which would affect the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas.

“Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned.

Perez said the minimum temperature in Metro Manila was recorded at 19.5 degrees Celsius at 5 a.m. on Monday.

So far, the lowest temperature for this year was at 18.9 degrees Celsius recorded last Saturday and Sunday, he said.

Metro Manila’s temperature readings are being recorded daily in the vicinity of the PAGASA Science Garden in Diliman, Quezon City between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

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

The northeast monsoon or seasonal winds from the northeast is the cold air from China that starts blowing into the country every mid-October. It usually peaks from early January to mid-February.

He said the country will continue to experience cooler weather in the coming days due to the northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan”.

It is responsible for the cool weather the country experiences from early November to mid-March. (PNA) LGI/CLTC