PAGASA: Rains may ease with slight weakening of ‘habagat’

The southwest monsoon or “habagat” is expected to weaken slightly this weekend but could still bring rain showers to some parts of the country.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its weekly weather outlook issued on Friday, June 21, that the habagat will temporarily weaken starting on Saturday, June 22.

However, cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms are still anticipated over Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Western Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Meanwhile, the rest of the archipelago may expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

From Monday to Tuesday, June 24 to 25, PAGASA said Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, and Western Visayas will experience partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the weak southwest monsoon.

PAGASA noted that the easterlies, or warm winds originating from the Pacific Ocean, will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over the Bicol Region.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with localized rain showers or thunderstorms are anticipated over the rest of the country.

From Wednesday to Friday, June 26 to 28, PAGASA said the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) will be the dominant weather system in the country, as the habagat “remains weak and offshore.”

The ITCZ will bring mostly cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region, and Northern Mindanao.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.