Wet weekend ahead as rainy season approaches

MANILA, Philippines – Umbrellas are a must this weekend as the state weather bureau said Friday that most parts of the country will experience cloudy skies and rainy weather in the next two or three days.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical, Services Administration (PAGASA) said the country is in transition towards the rainy season due to localized thunderstorms that will bring light to moderate rains in most parts of the country, including Metro Manila.

PAGASA noted that the frequent formation of thunderstorms is an indication that rainy season is coming.

Meanwhile, a low pressure area was spotted at 450 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes, but the state weather bureau said that it has a small chance of intensifying into a tropical storm.

PAGASA weather forecaster Chris Perez said that the LPA may attract the southwest monsoon or the "hanging habagat."

"Dahil may LPA na maaaring ito na yung humatak o magpalakas sa habagat pero hindi pa ito ganun magpapaulan," explained Perez in a report by state news website Philippine News Agency.

The presence of the southwest monsoon is one of the criteria for PAGASA to declare the wet season. The other factor is the amount of rainfall not lower than 25 millimeters for five consecutive days.

Last year, PAGASA declared the end of dry season on June 10.