MANILA, Philippines – The onset of the southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’ associated with rains would be likely sooner following the emergence of the southwesterly wind flow, the state-run weather agency said on Tuesday.
Nathaniel Servando, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) chief, said this weather system – which brings warm, moist air from the southwest across the country – has already been affecting the Zamboanga Peninsula, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Palawan.
Pagasa said its presence usually indicates the onset of the rainy season, mainly affecting the western section of the archipelago. Servando said the southwesterly wind flow is also bringing cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) and SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos).
Meanwhile, the state weather bureau said the trough, or extension of the low-pressure area outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, has been bringing similar weather over the rest of Mindanao.
The other weather system, easterlies – winds that carry warm, humid weather – has been affecting Eastern Visayas, bringing partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country would experience isolated downpours or thunderstorms within 24 hours.