Flash floods, landslides possible in parts of Mindanao due to easterlies, PAGASA warns
Residents in parts of Mindanao are advised to stay on alert as scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may trigger flash floods and landslides, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Thursday, March 26.
PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin de la Cruz-Galicia said the weather is caused by the warm winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, known as the “easterlies.”
These winds carry warm, moist air that leads to cloud formation and localized rainfall in northeastern and southern Mindanao.
Over the next 24 hours, cloudy skies, scattered rains, and thunderstorms are expected over Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Caraga, Soccsksargen, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Maguindanao del Sur.
De la Cruz-Galicia warned that moderate to heavy rainfall could result in flash floods or landslides, particularly in low-lying and landslide-prone areas.
In the rest of the country, mostly clear skies are expected, though isolated rain showers or thunderstorms may occur in the afternoon or evening.
These rains are expected to be brief, and hot and humid conditions will prevail.
Easterly winds typically occur during the shift from the dry season to the rainy months, which mark the start of the southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat,” usually arriving in late May or early June.