It is going to be hot and warm weather across the country this weekend as the easterlies will continue to blow humid winds from the Pacific, the state weather bureau said Saturday, March 20.

In its morning weather update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the easterlies or winds from the east will continue to affect the country.

“Asahan po natin na mainit at maalinsangang panahon sa buong kapuluan (We could expect hot and humid weather throughout the archipelago),” Ignacio said.

“May inaasahan tayong mga isolated na pag-ulan o ‘yung biglaang pagbuhos ng ulan ngunit ito’y panandalian lamang at isolated cases (We expect isolated rains or sudden downpours but these are only temporary and isolated cases),” she added.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the prevailing easterlies.

‘Amihan’ may return

Ignacio said the northeast monsoon or “amihan” is forecast to return by Monday, March 22, but will only affect Northern Luzon which may experience cold weather.

“By Monday or Tuesday, meron tayong inaasahang amihan so hindi pa rin tayo totally na tag-init season or dry season (By Monday or Tuesday, we are expecting that the amihan will return so we are still not totally in summer season or dry season),” she said.

“Pero sa southern portion ng ating bansa, sa may Southern Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao, ay patuloy nang nararamdaman ‘yung dry season natin (But in the southern portion of our country, in Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the dry season can now be felt),” she added.

She explained that the state weather bureau can only officially declare the start of the dry season when it can be felt in the entire country. 

“At the end of this month or first quarter nang April ay maaari na nating asahan na buong kapuluan ay maaari nang makaranas ng tag-init (we expect that the entire archipelago can already experience the summer season),” Ignacio said.