Rainy season begins - Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines - The rainy season has officially started, the weather bureau confirmed yesterday.

“The observed weather patterns during the past few days signal the onset of the southwest moonsoon season,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a statement.

PAGASA explained that the occurrence of intermittent to continuous rains in Metro Manila and the western sections of Luzon and Visays are associated with the southwest moonsoon or hanging habagat.

“With these develoments, the onset of the rainy season in the country has been established,” the weather bureau said.

“However, breaks in the rain events are commonly experienced that last for several days to weeks due to the strengthening of the ridge of the North Pacific high pressure area,” it noted.

Meanwhile, an active low-pressure area (LPA) is enhancing the southwest monsoon as it moves closer to the country.

The LPA spotted at 330 kilometers east of Borongan, Eastern Samar as of 8 a.m. yesterday will be given the local name “Ambo” once it develops into a tropical cyclone within the next 24 to 40 hours.

Embedded along the inter-tropical convergence zone, the LPA is expected to bring rains over the eastern section of Luzon and Visayas, including the Bicol region.

“These weather systems will bring cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rains in the Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao (in the next 24 hours),” PAGASA said in an advisory.

“Residents living in low lying areas and along mountain slopes are advised to be on alert for possible occurrence of flashfloods and landslides,” the advisory added.