Lowest temperature this amihan season notched in Benguet

The week is off to a cold start as air temperature in Benguet dipped to its lowest so far this "amihan" season at 9.5 degrees Celsius on Monday morning.

The cold temperature, which was recorded at the Benguet State University agrometeorology station in La Trinidad around 8 a.m., is so far the lowest temperature in the country since the northeast monsoon or "amihan" season began in November, 2020. It is lower than the 9.9 degrees Celsius recorded in the same station on Nov. 26, 2020.

Other monitoring stations of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also recorded significantly low temperatures on Monday morning.

These are the stations in Baguio City, 10.8 degrees Celsius; Laoag City, 17.0 degrees Celsius; Tanay, Rizal at 18.3 degrees Celsius; Malaybalay, Bukidnon at 19.0 degrees Celsius; Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, 19.2 degrees Celsius; Sinait, Ilocos Sur at 19.5 degrees Celsius; and Casiguran, Aurora at 19.6 degrees Celsius.

The cold winds could be attributed to the strong amihan affecting Luzon and some parts of Visayas.

Meanwhile, a new low pressure area (LPA) was spotted 240 kilometers east-southeast of General Santos City around 3 p.m. on Monday.

The LPA may bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over the entire Mindanao. PAGASA advised residents to take necessary precautionary measures due to possible flash floods or landslides triggered by moderate to heavy rains.

The combined effects of the tail-end of frontal system and amihan may also bring cloudy skies with scattered moderate to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms over Masbate, Sorsogon, and Visayas. 

Those in these areas were also asked by PAGASA to remain vigilant against possible flash floods or landslides.