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Flash floods and landslides threaten parts of Mindanao even as rain may fall on parts of the country Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

 

PAGASA forecaster Manny Mendoza also said the cold weather may last until at least February, as it is still winter in the northern hemisphere.

 

"It's still winter in the northern hemisphere. Hanggang early February malamig pa rin (We can expect cold weather until early February)," Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

Until then, he said the northeast monsoon will bring cold winds from Siberia and China.

 

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the tail end of a cold front may bring rain to Visayas.

 

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Visayas and Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

 

In eastern and southern Mindanao, however, it will be cloudy with widespread rain which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

 

Eastern Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with rain.

 

The rest of Luzon, meanwhile, will be partly cloudy to cloudy with light rains, PAGASA said.

 

Winds prevailing over Luzon and Visayas coming from the northeast will be moderate to strong, making the coastal waters along these areas moderate to rough.

 

Elsewhere, winds will be moderate to occasionally strong coming from the northeast and north, resulting in moderate to occasionally rough seas.

 

Meanwhile, PAGASA said strong to gale-force winds from the northeast monsoon may affect the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas, making it dangerous for sea travel.

 

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. –KG, GMA News