By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies apart from isolated afternoon or evening rains will prevail across the Philippines with the absence of a low pressure area (LPA) or tropical cyclone that may affect the country in the next two to three days, according to a weather forecaster.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Meno Mendoza said the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and localized thunderstorms remain the dominant weather systems across the country on Sunday.
ITCZ is the area where trade winds from the northern and southern hemispheres meet, characterized by frequent and often severe thunderstorms.
Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may prevail until Sunday (June 21) in Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao Occidental due to the ITCZ.
Meanwhile, the ITCZ and localized thunderstorms may bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers in Metro Manila and the rest of the country.
Based on the PAGASA’s extended weather outlook, Palawan on Monday (June 22) will likely have scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, and by Tuesday (June 23), isolated rain showers may prevail over the province.
Most of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms until Wednesday.
PAGASA still reminded the public to take extra precautions in the event of severe thunderstorms, as flashfloods or landslides are possible in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.
Severe thunderstorms are often associated with bursts of heavy rainfall, lightning, thunder, and gusty winds that usually last up to two hours.