Watch out for Geminids meteor showers tonight, tomorrow night

MANILA, Philippines - The state weather bureau urged yesterday Filipino stargazers to watch out for falling stars tonight. 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the Geminids meteor showers will reach its peak tonight and tomorrow night.

“Under a dark and cloudless sky just after midnight of its peak activity, meteors or ‘falling stars’ can be seen at an average rate of 40 meteors per hour. The shower will appear to radiate from the constellation of Gemini,” PAGASA said in a statement. 

But PAGASA weather forecaster Jori Loiz said residents of Davao, Cagayan and Zamboanga may not have a good view of the meteor showers as cloudy skies and isolated brief light rains are likely to prevail over these areas until Sunday. 

He said PAGASA also forecast cloudy skies for Legazpi City, Albay, Baguio City and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority until the weekend.

“Residents in Metro Manila and the western section of Central and Southern Luzon may have a nice view of the meteors,” Loiz said. 

“We expect the skies to clear out during the evening,” he said. 

He said good weather is also expected in the Visayas and other parts of Mindanao. 

PAGASA warned the public in the Bicol region, particularly the provinces of Catanduanes and Sorsogon, of possible flashfloods and landslides as the tail-end of a cold front is expected to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains (five to 15 millimeters per hour of rain) over these places in the next 24 hours.