Weather Improves in Most Parts of PHL Thursday

Manila (PNA) — Except in western Luzon, expect gradual weather improvement in most parts of the country as the southwest monsoon temporarily weakens on Thursday, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Fernando Cada said the monsoon trough or extended cloudiness from the southwest monsoon has weakened as most parts of the country including Metro Manila will be be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers due to localized thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

He added that a trough of a Low Pressure Area (LPA) affecting Western Luzon will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms over the Provinces of Zambales and Bataan.

He said the LPA located at west Philippine sea is not expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as it will move far away from the country.

Meanwhile, Cada said the state weather bureau monitors another LPA located at 500 km boundary from the PAR which is expected to enter by weekend.

Based on their numerical models, he said the LPA has a high chance to intensify into a tropical depression.

Cada said once it intensifies into a tropical depression, it will enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao and is expected to make landfall in Central Luzon.

The next tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine territory, Cada said, would be named “Luis” — it will be the second cyclone to visit the country this month and the 12th for this year.

PAGASA still expects two or three more tropical cyclones to enter the country this month.

In its advisory, PAGASA said moderate to occasionally strong winds blowing from the southwest to south will prevail over the western section of Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to occasionally rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from southwest to south with slight to moderate seas.

It added that no gale warning is issued as sea travel will be safe for fisherfolk and small seacraft. (PNA) FPV/CLTC