PAGASA: Brace for a rainy Christmas

Filipinos may be in for a rainy Christmas as the La Niña weather phenomenon is likely to stay in Philippine territory until the first quarter of 2011. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Elvie Enriquez said this is also due to a cold front and the northeast monsoon. "Considering talagang forecast natin itong month na ito ay La Niña month, ito ang last quarter ng 2010 hanggang first quarter ng 2011 (We have to consider that La Niña has been forecast to stay until the first quarter of 2011)," Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio. She also said the rains that have fallen on Metro Manila and parts of the country during the weekend were due to a cold front and the intensified northeast monsoon. Enriquez said Northern Luzon will be cloudy with rainshowers while Central and Southern Luzon and parts of Visayas and Mindanao will have rains and thunderstorms become widespread rains over the eastern section that may cause flash floods and landslides. "Northern Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with light rains. Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over the eastern sections which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said. It added that moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. On the other hand, Enriquez said Metro Manila will experience cooler temperature Monday, between 23 to 29 degrees Celsius. Temperatures will be cooler in Baguio at 14 to 25 degrees; and in Tagaytay at between 20 to 26 degrees. — RSJ, GMANews.TV