Warm Weather Continues Through the Weekend — PAGASA

(PNA) — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday said the country will remain storm-free in the next three days.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Denison Estareja said the agency has not seen any weather disturbance near the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) that may develop into tropical cyclone within the next three days or until weekend.

He said the agency monitored a cloud cluster in extreme Northern Luzon but has slim chance to develop into tropical cyclone.

Estareja said the public will continue to experience warm and humid weather until weekend in most parts the country because of presence of the ridge of high pressure area (HPA) affecting Luzon.

The HPA, which is the opposite of the low pressure area (LPA), is associated with light winds, less rainclouds, and drier air.

For Friday, PAGASA forecast partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over the whole country mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Light to moderate winds blowing from the southeast to south will prevail over Luzon and coming from the east to southeast over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

The presence of HPA will bring high temperatures and good weather condition in the coming days as the state weather bureau advised people to wear lightweight and light-colored clothing, and drink plenty of water.

PAGASA said residents of places directly hit by the heat of the sun, without trees, and surrounded by concrete roads would feel much hotter.

Despite a warmer weather, the occurrence of isolated rains will still prevail due to localized thunderstorms expected mostly in the afternoon or evening.

PAGASA explained that the convective activity brought about by intense heat triggers the formation of more cumulonimbus clouds or dark clouds associated with thunderstorms that brings rains.

On Thursday, Metro Manila had its highest 35.0 degrees Celsius recorded around 1:50 p.m. at the agency’s Science Garden in Diliman, Quezon City.

The temperature on Friday in Metro Manila will range 26-35 degrees Celsius while the heat index will be 30-40 degrees Celsius.

The heat index is the human discomfort index that gives the “apparent” temperature or what humans perceive or feel as the temperature affecting their body. High air temperatures and high relative humidity will give high apparent temperatures or indices. Full exposure to sunshine can increase the heat index by 9°C. (PNA) JBP/CLTC