No tropical cyclone expected; 'amihan' to bring cool, cloudy conditions this weekend
Cyclone-free conditions are expected as February begins, with the northeast monsoon, locally known as “amihan,” keeping temperatures cool in Luzon and parts of the Visayas.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, Jan. 30 said no low-pressure area (LPA) or tropical cyclone is expected near or within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) over the next two to three days.
PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin de la Cruz-Galicia said cooler weather conditions are expected to persist in the early morning and evening due to the amihan.
From Saturday to Monday, Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, the amihan may continue to bring cloudy skies with light rains over Cagayan Valley and Aurora, and partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
Scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms are likely over the Visayas, Bicol Region, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon due to the shear line, a weather system formed by the collision of cold winds from the northeast (amihan) and warm winds from the Pacific Ocean (easterlies)
The rest of Mindanao will remain partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
By Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 3–4, the axis of the shear line is expected to shift southward, bringing scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms over Visayas and most of Mindanao.
Cloudy skies with light rains may continue over Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Aurora, and Quezon, while the rest of the country will experience fair weather apart from isolated light rains due to the amihan.
By Thursday and Friday, Feb. 5–6, PAGASA said an LPA may form east of Mindanao along the shear line, bringing cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, and Negros Island Region.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains may continue over Metro Manila and the rest of the country due to the amihan.