Weather conditions are improving across parts of the country, as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday, May 26 reported that the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is now less likely to bring significant heavy rainfall.

Over the past week, the ITCZ affected several areas, mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao, triggering rain-induced flooding.

Despite the improvement, PAGASA said scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are still likely to affect Zamboanga Peninsula, Negros Island Region, Western Visayas, and Palawan within the next 24 hours. 

“PAGASA Regional Services Divisions will continue to issue local thunderstorms advisories, rainfall advisories, or heavy rainfall warnings as needed,” the agency said in its advisory.

Meanwhile, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to lingering effects of the ITCZ.

The easterlies will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms to the rest of Luzon.

PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said the country will continue to experience frequent thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening during the transition to the rainy season.

He also noted that the wind patterns are expected to shift toward the southwest monsoon or “habagat” by the end of the week or early next week, which signals that the onset of the rainy season is near.

Badrina added that PAGASA has not monitored any tropical cyclones inside or near the Philippine Area of Responsibility as of Monday.

He said this situation may remain the same in the coming days.