Jun 122013
 
Flash floods and landslides threaten the western parts of Luzon and Visayas Thursday as a  low-pressure area, just outside the Philippine area of responsibility enhances the southwest monsoon, state weather forecasters said.

PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said their models show the LPA intensifying into a cyclone. However, it is not likely to enter the Philippine area of responsibility and may instead move toward Vietnam.

“Nagpapalakas ito ng habagat,” Quitlong said in an interview on dzBB radio.

But if the LPA intensifies into a cyclone and enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility, it will be codenamed Emong, he said.

Thursday outlook

For Thursday, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon is affecting the western sections of Luzon and Visayas.

“Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas and the provinces of Zambales and Bataan will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

It added Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and the rest of Luzon and of Visayas will be cloudy with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.

The rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, it added.

Also, moderate to strong winds from the southwest to south will prevail over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Light to moderate winds coming from the southeast to south will prevail over the rest of Luzon and Visayas and from the northeast to north over Mindanao with slight to moderate seas. — DVM/ELR, GMA News

Apr 252013
 
Areas of Luzon hit 37°C

While Metro Manila sizzled Thursday at temperatures above 36 degrees Celsius, at least three areas in Luzon recorded temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong also said temperatures in various parts of the country may continue to rise until at least the first week of May. “Next week ang pinaka peak hanggang first week ng May, kaya pwede malampasan ito,” Quitlong said in an interview on dzBB radio. Quitlong said the highest temperature recorded at Science Garden in Quezon City was 36.3 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature in Metro Manila so far this year was 36.6 degrees Celsius last April 19. Elsewhere in Luzon, Quitlong said temperatures reached 37.0 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao (Cagayan), Cabanatuan (Nueva Ecija), and Echague (Isabela). For Friday, PAGASA said Metro Manila and Tuguegarao may expect temperatures of up to 35 degrees Celsius (http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/wb/fcst/pf.pdf). Rain over Mindanao Meanwhile, PAGASA’s 5 p.m. bulletin said parts of Mindanao may expect rain on Friday while Metro Manila and the rest of the country may have isolated rain. PAGASA said the trough of a low-pressure area is extending across Mindanao while easterlies are prevailing over the eastern section of Luzon and Visayas. “Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of country will be partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms,” it said. It added light to moderate winds from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and coming from Read More …