Most of the country will continue to experience cloudy skies and rains due to the northeast monsoon, locally called “amihan,” and the low pressure area (LPA) spotted east of Mindanao, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Thursday, Dec. 22.

In a public weather forecast, PAGASA Weather Specialist Benison Estareja said the northeast monsoon is still affecting most of Luzon. Residents of Cagayan, Apayao, Metro Manila, and the rest of Luzon may continue to experience cold winds with cloudy skies and rains due to the said weather system.

The state weather bureau is also monitoring the LPA east of Mindanao. The weather disturbance was last seen 280 kilometers (km) east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.

Although less likely to develop into a cyclone, the LPA will continue to bring cloudy skies and scattered rain showers in Bicol Region, eastern Visayas, central Visayas, and Caraga.

“May times na magiging malakas kaya’t pinag iingat po natin sa mga baha at landslides (There will be times that the rains will be heavy, that is why we are reminding residents of the said areas to be vigilant and prepared against possible flooding and landslides),” said Estareja.

Meanwhile, due to the due to the strong to gale-force winds associated with the northeast monsoon, a gale warning remained hoisted in the seaboards of northern Luzon, eastern seaboard of central Luzon, eastern seaboard of southern luzon, the northern and eastern coasts of Catanduanes, as well as the western seaboards of central and southern Luzon.

Fishing boats and other small seacrafts were advised not to venture out into the sea due to rough sea conditions.