By Ellalyn de Vera-Ruiz
Cold breeze with some rains will likely prevail across Luzon and Visayas this weekend due to the resurgence of the northeast monsoon or "amihan."
(JJ Landingin / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Ezra Bulquerin said on Thursday that the “amihan” may bring cloudy skies with scattered rains over Aurora, Quezon, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Cagayan, Batanes, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino.
There is also a possibility of flash floods over low-lying areas or landslides in mountainous communities at times of heavy monsoon rains, he added.
Visayas, Metro Manila, and the rest of Luzon may also experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light “amihan” rains.
PAGASA monitoring stations recorded on Thursday minimum temperatures falling below 20 degrees Celsius. Baguio City's minimum temperature was registered at 12.2 degrees Celsius; 16.2 degrees Celsius in Basco, Batanes; 18.0 degrees Celsius in Malaybalay, Bukidnon; 18.7 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; and 19.3 degrees Celsius in Tanay, Rizal.
Meanwhile, PAGASA's Science Garden monitoring station in Quezon City recorded a minimum temperature of 22.0 degrees Celsius. It is higher than the lowest recorded temperature in the metropolis so far this year at 19.9 degrees Celsius last January 22.
PAGASA said partly cloudy to cloudy skies in the morning and isolated rain showers in the afternoon or evening due to localized thunderstorms may persist in Mindanao. PAGASA advised residents in Mindanao to take extra precaution during the occurrence of severe thunderstorms.
Bulquerin said a gale warning was in effect on Thursday due to moderate to rough seas triggered by the surge of “amihan.”
Fishing boats and other small sea craft were advised not to set sail into the seas of Batanes, Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Sur, and Iocos Norte due to big waves.
Larger sea vessels should remain alert against very rough sea condition.
Bulquerin said PAGASA does not see the formation of a low pressure area or tropical cyclone inside the country's area of responsibility in the next three to five days.