'Ramon' out of PHL, fine weather seen this weekend

Nature has finally given the country a break. After three consecutive storms, PAGASA says fine weather is expected this weekend. But this year has already seen at least six more storms than last year, and weather authorities are predicting a rainy Christmas season. Some Central Luzon towns are still suffering from floods brought on by Typhoon Pedring in September. After threatening to become another typhoon, Tropical Depression Ramon (Banyan) moved quickly through Mindanao and the Visayas and is now out of the Philippine area of responsibility. Ramon caused nine deaths. But PAGASA said northern and Central Luzon can still experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. "Weather will be fine this weekend and expect possible improvement next week except in the afternoon or evening thunderstorms," PAGASA said on its Twitter account.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA noted a wind convergence is affecting northern and Central Luzon that may cause rain showers and thunderstorms. "Northern and Central Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms," PAGASA said. Meanwhile, moderate to occasionally strong winds blowing from the southwest and southeast will prevail over northern and Central Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to occasionally rough. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center's 2 p.m. update indicated that Ramon may still head northwest then change course and head for Vietnam. — RSJ/HS, GMA News