'Amihan' just around the corner, says Pagasa

WITH the northeasterly surface wind flow prevailing in most parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) announced on Wednesday that it would declare the onset of the northeast monsoon («amihan') in the coming days.

According to weather specialist Obet Badrina, amihan will also bring rain, especially in the northeastern section of the country but without thunderstorms that are common with the southwest monsoon locally known as „habagat.“

PHOTO FROM DOST PAGASA

»Now that the northeasterly surface wind flow — the wind coming from the northeast that brings mild temperatures — prevails, it is likely that Pagasa will declare its onset maybe this week or the following week," Badrina said. He said the weather system is affecting Northern Luzon particularly Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora where overcast skies with rains can be experienced. «Based on our forecast track, we have not monitored any low pressure area or tropical cyclone inside or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the next few days,» the Pagasa forecaster said. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms due to the northeasterly surface wind flow and localized thunderstorms, the state-run weather bureau said.