LPA dissipates but rains to persist in Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - The low-pressure area earlier forecast to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this week has dissipated, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

However, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the easterlies, or warm air blowing from the Pacific Ocean, will still bring rains in some parts of Northern and Central Luzon.

“The regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Ilocos, Central Luzon and the province of Quezon will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms,” PAGASA said.

The weather bureau said Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Based on data from PAGASA, at most one tropical cyclone is likely to affect the country this month.

One cyclone has entered the country so far this year.

Tropical storm Amang (international name Mekkhala) brought heavy rains and strong winds in parts of Eastern Visayas and Southern Luzon during Pope Francis’ visit last month.

PAGASA weather forecaster Samuel Duran earlier said the country will experience slightly warmer temperatures in the next few days due to the easterlies.

However, he said the northeast monsoon, or the cold and dry air from China and Siberia, is still expected to regain strength in the coming days.

PAGASA said the northeast monsoon is expected until the first half of March.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the coastal waters of Luzon and the Visayas will be moderate to occasionally rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast with slight to moderate seas, it said.