PAGASA: Hot weather due to high pressure area; summer making entrance

The hot weather experienced in Metro Manila on Thursday is a sign that summer is making its entrance, state weather forecasters said Friday.

 

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Gener Quitlong said the ridge of a high-pressure area is in place and causing warm weather.

 

"Sa pinapakita ng system natin ngayon, lalo sa pagpasok ng high pressure area, parang nag-uumpisa na ang tag-init," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

A high pressure system is defined on Weather.com as an area of relative maximum pressure with diverging winds and rotating opposite to the earth's rotation.

 

It is the opposite of a low pressure area or cyclone.

 

Quitlong noted Metro Manila experienced its hottest day so far this year with 34.4 degrees Celsius at 1:50 p.m. Thursday.

 

He said that with the ridge of a high pressure area still affecting the country, Filipinos can expect more warm days ahead.

 

While Mindanao will continue to experience rain due to the easterlies, or winds from the east, Quitlong said rain will be less in other parts of the country.

 

"Hihina na (ang ulan), puwera sa Mindanao dahil meron pang easterlies pero isolated na lang ‘yan," he said.

 

According to PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin, "Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms," it said.

 

Winds that are light to moderate from the east to southeast will blow over Luzon, and from the east over the rest of the country.

 

The coastal waters throughout the country will be slight to moderate. –KG, GMA News