Rains to persist over Luzon due to shear line, 'amihan

Most of Luzon may still experience rains due to the prevalence of the northeast monsoon, or "amihan,” and shear line, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Thursday, Nov. 16.

PAGASA warned the public of possible flash floods or landslides in Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Quezon, Marinduque, and Romblon because of scattered rain showers and thunderstorms caused by the shear line.

The shear line is an area where the cold northeasterly winds and warm easterlies converge, said PAGASA.

Cloudy skies with light rain are expected in Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, and Aurora, while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rain are expected in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, the rest of the Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Central Luzon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal due to amihan.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers caused by localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA said flash floods or landslides may occur in the affected areas during severe thunderstorms.

Moreover, weather specialist Patrick del Mundo said PAGASA is still monitoring the Low Pressure Area (LPA) outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), which was located 1,020 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao.

Del Mundo said the LPA still has a low chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours but may enter the country's area of responsibility within the next 24 hours.

He added that the public should be vigilant of possible flash floods and landslides as the LPA, whether it may develop into a tropical cyclone or not, will bring heavy rains to Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and Caraga Region by Sunday, Nov. 19.