Cloudy skies and rain are expected nationwide due to the combined effects of the northeasterly wind flow and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), the weather bureau said Tuesday, Oct. 7.
The northeasterly wind flow is a seasonal air current from the northeast that brings cooler winds and moisture and usually signifies the start of the northeast monsoon (amihan) season.
On the other hand, the ITCZ refers to a belt of converging winds near the equator where the winds from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet. It usually produces heavy rainfall and thunderstorms due to rising air and moisture convergence.
In its 5 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that cloudy skies with rain are expected in the Bicol Region and Quezon, caused by the northeasterly wind flow.
These conditions may lead to flash floods or landslides due to moderate to heavy rainfall at times.
The same weather system is also causing partly cloudy skies with isolated rain over Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and Aurora. These showers are not expected to cause a significant impact.
Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms caused by the ITCZ are expected in Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao. Pagasa warned that moderate to heavy rains at times in these areas could result in flooding or landslides.
Typhoon Halong, new LPA
Pagasa is also monitoring Typhoon Halong, which remains outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and is not expected to directly affect the country.
Halong was last located 1,875 kilometers east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon. It had maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 160 kph, moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.
Meanwhile, a new low-pressure area (LPA) was monitored outside PAR and now has a high chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.
However, like Halong, it is unlikely to enter the PAR and affect the country. It was last spotted 2,285 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas./abc