By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
There will be a low chance of precipitation in the next three to five days, as the country experiences a monsoon break.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Ezra Bulquerin said a slightly stronger southwest monsoon or “habagat” continues to affect the extreme Northern Luzon, causing moderate to rough seas off the coast of Batanes, Babuyan Island, Calayan Island, and Ilocos Norte.
Those with small seacraft should not set sail into these areas.
Bulquerin said the effect of habagat over the rest of the country remains weak, which could bring less rainfall, apart from short-lived rain showers from thunderstorms, in the coming days.
PAGASA said Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms this Thursday.
It warned that sudden rains due to severe thunderstorm activity, which may occur in the afternoon or evening, may cause flash floods or landslides in low-lying or mountainous areas.
Bulquerin said the weather bureau does not see the formation of a low pressure area near or within the Philippine area of responsibility in the next 24 hours.
With the lack of rainfall, Metro Manila’s main water supply source, Angat Dam has further dwindled on Wednesday.
Based on the PAGASA’s monitoring as of Wednesday morning, the water level at Angat Dam was down to 160.30 meters, which is 0.28 meters lower than last Tuesday’s 160.58 meters.
As recent monsoon rains failed to sustain the increasing level of Angat Dam, it is again inching closer to its 160-meter critical level for domestic water supply, which it breached last June 22.