Occasional rains to continue until weekend — PAGASA

MANILA — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday that occasional rains will prevail over the western section of Luzon and Visayas until weekend due to southwest monsoon or “hanging habagat”.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Fernando Cada said southwest monsoon remains as the dominant weather system affecting the western sections of Luzon and Visayas.

He added that southwest monsoon, which is associated with the occurrence of intermittent to continuous rains, is the prevailing wind system during the rainy season.

Until weekend, Cada said Metro Manila, regions of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces); Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Western Visayas and the provinces of Bataan and Zambales will experience occasional rains.

Mindanao on the other hand, will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms while the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, Cada said the weather bureau has been monitoring a weather disturbance still outside country’s area of responsibility.

He said the low pressure area is located near eastern part of Mindanao.

He added the LPA has small chance to intensify into tropical depression but the agency continues to monitor it.

He noted that the next tropical cyclone that will visit the country will be named “Florita.”

For the month of June, he said the state weather bureau is expecting two to three storms to hit the country.

Every year, an average of about 18 to 20 storms affect the Philippines, according to the PAGASA.

In its advisory, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds coming from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and Western Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

It added light to moderate winds blowing from the south to southwest will prevail over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas.