Heavy rains on 1st day of school

MANILA, Philippines – The weather bureau yesterday advised students to bring their umbrellas and raincoats on Monday, the first day of school, with rains expected to prevail over some parts of the country due to an enhanced southwest monsoon.

Classes in all public elementary and high schools nationwide open on Monday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the monsoon trough (series of low-pressure areas) oriented southwest to northeast is prevailing over Northern Luzon.

“This weather system is expected to prevail in the next 3 to 5 days. The monsoon trough will enhance the southwesterly flow, bringing rain showers and thunderstorms over Northern and Central Luzon today, then it will shift southwards and affect Southern Luzon including Metro Manila and Visayas by Sunday and Monday and cause bad weather in these areas,” Pagasa said in a special weather outlook for the opening of classes.

Pagasa senior weather forecaster Robert Sawi said moderate to heavy rains are expected over Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, early next week as the low-pressure area (LPA) is forecast to move upward and interact with the southwesterly wind flow.

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, the LPA was spotted some 560 kilometers east of Mindanao.

Sawi said there is a slim chance that the LPA would intensify into a tropical cyclone.

Sawi said the eastern section of Mindanao would experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers as the LPA moves closer to the region.

Pagasa earlier said two or three tropical cyclones are likely to enter the country in June, threatening areas in Luzon.