Zero to one tropical cyclone may develop and enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) in April, the state weather bureau said on Saturday morning, April 1. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Weather Specialist Benison Estareja said the development of a tropical cyclone in April is rare, but it is not impossible. “Base sa Climatology Division ng PAGASA, zero to one po ang inaasahan nating bagyo sa April for this year. Kapag may bagyo na nabuo o pumasok sa PAR sa silangang Mindanao ay posible itong mag landfall sa Caraga Region or Eastern Visayas at dumaan pa sa natitirang bahagi ng Visayas at MIMAROPA (Based on PAGASA’s Climatology Division, the expected number of cyclone in April for this year is zero to one. When a tropical cyclone forms or enters PAR in Eastern Mindanao, it may make landfall in the Caraga Region or Eastern Visayas and pass through the rest of Visayas and MIMAROPA),” said Estareja in a public weather forecast on Saturday. But when a cyclone passes through or enters PAR in the Eastern section of Bicol, it has a lesser chance of hitting the Philippine landmass according to the state weather bureau. “So far ay wala pa naman tayong nakikitang bagyo na posibleng pumasok sa ating PAR in the next three to five days (So far, we are not seeing any tropical cyclone that could enter PAR in the next three to five days),” Estareja added.

Easterlies affecting PH

Warm and humid weather conditions will still prevail across the archipelago over the weekend due to easterlies. In the coming days, heat index or the apparent heat that humans perceive could hit dangerous levels in Central Luzon, particularly Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, as well as Northern Luzon, specifically Pangasinan, Cagayan, and Isabela. Estareja, however, disclosed that when the weather is “extremely hot” in the morning and the moisture content is high, there is a higher chance of developing thunderstorm clouds. Due to the combined effects of localized thunderstorms and easterlies, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers may prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of the country. Residents of Mindanao, on the other hand, were warned against possible flash floods or landslides due to light to moderate rains that may be triggered by the easterlies.