By ELLALYN V. RUIZ
Some areas will gradually feel the cold breeze due to the northeast monsoon or “amihan” as it approaches its peak in December that may last until February.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Benison Estareja said the northeast monsoon has slightly intensified and is currently affecting most of Northern Luzon.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light amihan rains may prevail over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino throughout Sunday.
These areas may have slightly lower air temperatures, Estareja noted.
“Posible na sa mga susunod na araw ay mas lalakas pa ito at makakaapekto rin sa ilang bahagi ng bansa. (It is possible that in the coming days it will be even stronger and will also affect some parts of the country),” he said.
Most parts of the country will continue to have fair weather due to partly cloudy skies, which may sometimes become cloudy in other parts of the archipelago.
In Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Southern Luzon, the weather condition is almost the same as last Saturday, Estareja said. It will be partly cloudy to cloudy throughout the day, becoming warm especially around noon.
Air temperatures may reach 32 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila, as well as in Legazpi City, and Puerto Princesa City.
The chances of localized thunderstorms and isolated rain showers are also high especially in Aurora, Quezon, and Bicol region.
Visayas and Mindanao will also have partly cloudy to cloudy skies due to localized thunderstorms.
“There will also be isolated rain showers most often in the afternoon throughout Mindanao and southern portions of Eastern Visayas and Central Visayas,” Estareja said.
“There is still a low chance that we will have a tropical cyclone within the Philippine area of responsibility over the next five days,” he added.
There is no gale warning in effect Sunday due to moderate to rough seas in Luzon, and slight to moderate seas in Visayas and Mindanao.
“Pero dahil unti unting lumalakas ang northeast monsoon ay mas lalakas ang hangin, ibig sabihin mas tataas ang pag alon especially sa northern and eastern parts of Luzon (But as the northeast monsoon gradually intensifies, the wind will also become stronger, meaning that the waves will become higher especially in the northern and eastern parts of Luzon),” Estareja said.
The northeast monsoon is defined by PAGASA as cold winds coming from mainland China that bring rains over the eastern side of the country. The wind is relatively dry so the rain is not that strong, Estareja said.
