PAGASA: No cyclone threatening all souls’ weekend

Filipinos paying respects to their dearly departed this weekend need not worry about any threats from cyclones, but sea travelers will still have to be wary of big waves in waters around Luzon. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said rainshowers in some areas in Metro Manila Saturday are due to an inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ). “We can expect good weather in northern and Central Luzon. Expect cold weather in the morning and isolated rains in the southern Luzon area. This is due to the tail-end of a cold front approaching eastern Luzon," PAGASA forecaster Manny Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said rains can be expected on November 1. But he also said big waves from “amihan" (northeasterly winds) can be expected in western, eastern and northern Luzon. On the other hand, he said PAGASA is monitoring the approach of a potential low-pressure area (LPA). “Hindi pa sigurado ito (The LPA is not yet a sure thing)," he said. In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the ITCZ is affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. "Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms," it said. Meanwhile, in its special weather outlook for All Souls’ Day, PAGASA said the ITCZ and the approaching tail-end of a cold front will be the dominant weather system affecting most parts of southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. “In the next three days, Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will have raishowers and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over the Eastern Visayas and northern Mindanao on Monday (Nov. 01) due to the expected approach of an LPA," it said. PAGASA said the rest of Luzon will have good weather condition and a little colder temperature in the morning. For more information, the public may contact the duty forecaster at the Weather Division, PAGASA at telephone numbers 926-4258, 927-2877, 927-1541, and 927-1335. — LBG, GMANews.TV