PAGASA: Bicol weather improving; floods, landslides threaten parts of Visayas

After days of heavy rains, the weather in Bicol region has started to improve, however, flash floods and landslides now loom over parts of Visayas and Mindanao, state weather forecasters said Friday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said this is due to the wind convergence affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. "The weather in Bicol is improving. The wind convergence is heading south, to Eastern Visayas and Mindanao," PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz said in an interview aired on dzBB. PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said Northern and Central Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with light rains. "Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Eastern Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," it added. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and coming from the northeast and east over Eastern Visayas and Mindanao. Coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast and East with slight to moderate seas. Meanwhile, PAGASA said light rains and cooler temperature over Northern and Central Luzon, and gradual improvement of the weather in Bicol are to be expected during the New Year weekend. But PAGASA also warned of big waves in the coastal areas of Luzon during the holidays. "Northeast Monsoon associated with strong northeasterly winds together with passing light rains and cooler temperature will be experience(d) over Northern and Central Luzon," PAGASA said in its special weather outlook for the New Year holidays Thursday night. It added the wind Convergence will be the dominant weather system to affect Southern Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Eastern Mindanao. This weather system will bring scattered to widespread rains over Bicol region including Quezon Province and eastern Visayas (Samar and Leyte) until Friday. "On January 01 (New Year's Day), Bicol area will have gradual improve(d) weather condition and the rain activitity slides down affecting eastern Visayas together Northeastern Mindanao Provinces," PAGASA said. But PAGASA advised fishermen over the coastal areas of Luzon to refrain from venturing out into the sea due to big waves generated by strong northeasterly winds. It also warned fishermen over Eastern Visayas against moderate to strong winds with moderate to rough seas due to the expected southward effect of the monsoon surge. However, PAGASA maintained no tropical cyclone development is expected throughout the outlook period. For more information, the public can contact the forecaster-on-duty through telephone numbers: 927-2877/927-1541/926-4258. — LBG, GMANews.TV