PAGASA announces start of rainy season

The rainy season in the Philippines has officially started, PAGASA announced Tuesday.

In an advisory, the state weather bureau said the country’s current weather system has satisfied the criteria for the onset of the rainy season.

“The presence of a frontal system and the occurrence of severe thunderstorms have brought widespread rains during the last five days in areas under Type I climate and other parts of the country. Moreover, southwesterly wind flow was also observed during the past few days. This satisfies the criteria of the start of the rainy season over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas,” said PAGASA.

It also said intermittent rain—associated with the Southwest Monsoon—will begin affecting Metro Manila and the western sections of the country. Monsoon breaks which can last for several days or weeks may likewise occur.

Meanwhile, the ongoing La Niña may continue affecting several parts of the country and increase the likelihood of above-normal rainfall conditions in the coming months, it added.

“Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, DOST-PAGASA will continue to monitor the day-to-day weather and long-term climate situation and provide updates when significant changes occur,” said PAGASA.

Weather report

Meanwhile, the frontal system and the southwesterly surface windflow will bring rain over parts of extreme northern Luzon and the western sections of northern and Central Luzon, PAGASA said.

Based on the 4 p.m. weather forecast, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte will experience cloudy skies with rains due to frontal system with possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, and the rest of Ilocos Region will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms caused by southwesterly surface windflow.

The rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms with possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

The wind speed forecast for extreme northern Luzon will be moderate to strong moving northeast, while coastal water conditions will be moderate to rough.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will experience light to moderate wind speed, while slight to moderate coastal water conditions.

The sun will rise at 5:28 a.m. on Thursday. — Sundy Locus and Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News