Moderate to heavy rains are expected over Southern Luzon and the Visayas as the shear line continues to affect large parts of the country on Sunday, Feb. 1, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA weather specialist Leanne Loreto said the weather system, formed by the collision of the northeast monsoon or “amihan” and easterlies, remains dominant.

“Ngayong araw po ay patuloy pong umiiral itong shear line o ‘yung linya kung saan nagbabanggan ang hanging amihan at easterlies (Today, the shear line continues to persist, which is the boundary where the northeast monsoon and easterlies collide),” she said.

According to her, the axis of the shear line is positioned over the eastern sections of Southern Luzon and the Visayas.

“Ngayong araw po ‘yung axis nitong shear line ay nakatutok po rito sa may eastern sections ng Southern Luzon and Visayas (Today, the axis of the shear line is focused over the eastern sections of Southern Luzon and the Visayas),” she added.

Aside from the shear line, Loreto said the amihan remains strong, affecting large parts of Luzon.

“Aside po rito sa shear line, ‘yung amihan natin patuloy nga pong bumubugso at nakakaapekto naman dito sa may Luzon (Aside from the shear line, the northeast monsoon continues to strengthen and affect Luzon),” she said.

Because of these weather systems, PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains are expected over Southern Luzon.

“Kaya ngayong araw, inaasahan po natin dito sa may Southern Luzon area na mayroon po tayong katamtaman hanggang sa mga malalakas na mga pag-ulan (Thus, today we expect moderate to heavy rains over Southern Luzon),” Loreto said.

“So magiging maulap po ang ating panahon dito sa may Quezon, Bicol Region, Marinduque, Romblon, at Oriental Mindoro (Weather will be cloudy over Quezon, the Bicol Region, Marinduque, Romblon, and Oriental Mindoro),” she added.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau said other parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will generally experience better weather conditions.

Loreto said the entire Visayas remains under the influence of the shear line, which is expected to bring cloudy conditions and intermittent rains to the region.

“Kabuuan nga po ng Visayas apektado nitong shear line kaya makakaranas rin po sila ng mga pag-ulan at makulimlim na panahon (The whole of the Visayas is affected by the shear line and will experience rains and cloudy conditions),” she said.

PAGASA said Palawan and Mindanao are expected to have generally fair weather.