MANILA, Philippines -The state weather bureau yesterday warned that Southern Luzon and eastern Visayas would experience a rainy Christmas Day with the possibility of flashfloods and landslides in the region.
Robert Sawi, weather branch chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said rains are expected particularly in the provinces of Quezon, Bicol and Samar today.
“There is a high probability of flashfloods and landslides in these areas,” Sawi said.
Sawi added partly cloudy skies with passing light rain would prevail over Metro Manila today.
Northern Luzon, on the other hand, would experience mostly cloudy skies with light rains, he said.
The rest of the country would be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms.
Airport authorities also ordered the cancellation of nine domestic flights to Bicol because of the prevailing weather.
Local flights out of Manila to Catarman, Naga and Tuguegarao were cancelled yesterday.
Among the cancelled flights were Cebu Pacific 5J 821/822 Manila to Virac-Virac to Manila; 5J521/522 Manila to Naga-Naga to Manila; Airphil Express 2P 029/030, Manila to Catarman-Catarman to Manila; 2P 7389, Manila to Catarman and 2P 014/015; Manila to Tuguegarao and its returning flight.
PAGASA, however, said no tropical cyclone was forecast to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this weekend.
PAGASA also said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast and east would prevail over Luzon and eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas would be moderate to rough.
Elsewhere, winds would be light to moderate coming from the northeast to north with slight to moderate seas, Pagasa said. – With Rudy Santos