Warm weather to start in March —PAGASA

(Updated 10:31 a.m.) - As February ends this week, state weather forecasters advised Filipinos to prepare for the onset of warm weather starting March. "Sa Marso medyo iinit ang panahon. Manggaling sa Pacific Ocean ang hanging silanganin. Magdadala (ito) ng mainit at maalinsangang panahon," PAGASA forecaster Manny Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio. But for now, he said the northeast monsoon will continue to bring isolated rain to Metro Manila and other parts of the country. It will also bring rain to Cagayan Valley and Aurora and Quezon provinces, he added. "Magpapaulan 'yan siguro sa Metro Manila para sa araw na ito pero inaasahan pa rin dagliang pag-ulan. Most of the time medyo maaraw," he said.

Northeast monsoon PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said the northeast monsoon is affecting Luzon and Eastern Visayas. It said Cagayan Valley and Aurora and Quezon provinces can expect cloudy skies with light rain while Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon and Eastern Visayas may have "partly cloudy skies with brief light rain." "The rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms," it said. PAGASA also said moderate to strong winds from the northeast will prevail throughout the archipelago, and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. PAGASA also said strong to gale-force winds associated with the northeast monsoon may affect the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon and Visayas. "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. — With a report from A.M. Marzoña/DVM/KG, GMA News