PAGASA: Expect warm weather due to winds from east

Despite the entry of the amihan (northeast monsoon), Filipinos can still expect the weather to become warm again Tuesday due to the easterly winds, state weather forecasters said. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Elvie Enriquez said temperatures in Metro Manila went as high as 34 degrees Celsius Monday, and may go up to 33 degrees Tuesday. "Kapag galing sa easterly, sa Pacific, may kainitan. Kaya minsan ang temperatura tulad kahapon umabot ng 34. Ngayon inaasahan natin 33 degrees Celsius ang temperatura," Enriquez said in an interview on dZBB radio. But she said this may not be the case in all areas of the country, noting temperatures in Baguio City have been recorded as low as 15 degrees recently. She also said the amihan winds will eventually take over and bring the cool weather associated with the Christmas season. Enriquez added there is no weather disturbance near Philippine territory at this time. "Wala pa tayong nakikitang weather disturbance papalapit sa bansa (We do not see any weather disturbance near the country)," she said. ITCZ On the other hand, PAGASA said flash floods and landslides may loom over the Bicol Region and eastern Mindanao due to an inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ). In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the ITCZ is affecting the Visayas and Mindanao. The US National Aeronautics Space Administration describes the ITCZ as the region that circles the Earth, near the equator, where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres come together. "The intense sun and warm water of the equator heats the air in the ITCZ, raising its humidity and making it buoyant. Aided by the convergence of the trade winds, the buoyant air rises. As the air rises it expands and cools, releasing the accumulated moisture in an almost perpetual series of thunderstorms," it said. Seasonal shifts in the location of the ITCZ can affect rainfall in many equatorial nations, resulting in the wet and dry seasons of the tropics rather than the cold and warm seasons of higher latitudes. Longer-term changes in the ITCZ can result in severe droughts or flooding in nearby areas. "The whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Bicol Region and Eastern Mindanao which may trigger flash floods and landslides," PAGASA said. Meanwhile, moderate to strong winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the northeast to northwest with slight to moderate seas. Also, PAGASA said strong to gale force winds associated with the surge of northeasterly surface windflow may affect the seaboards of northern Luzon. "Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. — RSJ, GMA News