Scattered rains to persist over parts of the Philippines on Valentine's Day
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, Feb. 14 said scattered rains and thunderstorms may prevail over parts of the country due to three weather systems—the shear line, easterlies, and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
The shear line—a weather system that forms when cold winds from the northeast monsoon (amihan) collide with warm breezes from the Pacific Ocean (easterlies)—is expected to bring scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms to the Batanes and Babuyan Islands.
Due to the easterlies, cloudy skies, scattered rains, and thunderstorms will also affect the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, and Quezon.
Similar conditions will likely persist in Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and Davao Region due to the ITCZ, or the convergence of winds from the northern and southern hemispheres.
PAGASA warned that areas affected by the three weather systems may experience flash floods and landslides, especially during moderate to heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to either the ITCZ or easterlies.
PAGASA also advised the public to stay vigilant as severe thunderstorms—often associated with bursts of heavy rainfall, lightning, thunder, and gusty winds that usually last up to two hours—may trigger flash floods or landslides.