PAGASA declares start of Habagat season

The state weather bureau, PAGASA, has officially declared the start of the Habagat or southwest monsoon season in the Philippines.

According to an advisory posted on Friday, the announcement was made following the persistence of low-level southwesterly winds and the Frontal System over several parts of the country, as well as the weakening of the easterlies.

The Philippines may expect occasional to frequent rains and thunderstorms, especially over the western section of the country while periods of monsoon breaks may also occur.

The start of Habagat may also lead to the possible onset of the rainy season within the next two weeks.

In a public weather forecast on Thursday, PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said the initial stage of the Habagat season had started due to the return of the Southwesterly Windflow, which prevailed over some areas of the country.

“PAGASA will continue to monitor the weather situation of the country. The public and all concerned agencies are advised to take precautionary measures against the adverse impacts of the Habagat such as floods and rain-induced landslides,” the advisory read.

According to PAGASA’s daily weather forecast on Friday afternoon, multiple weather systems may bring rains over several parts of the country.

The Frontal System may bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Batanes, while the Southwesterly Windflow will cause cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Occidental Mindoro.

The rest of the country will be having partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms.

Possible flash floods or landslides may occur in some areas as a result of said weather conditions.

Meanwhile, extreme Northern Luzon may observe moderate winds with moderate coastal waters.

Light to moderate winds with slight to moderate coastal waters may occur over the rest of the country.

Temperatures in the country will range from a minimum of 27.2°C to a maximum of 33.2°C over the next 24 hours.

Sunrise in Metro Manila will be at 5:26 a.m. on Saturday. — BAP, GMA Integrated News