ITCZ, easterlies, northeasterly winds to affect Philippines

MANILA — Three weather systems will bring rains in vast swaths of the country, PAGASA said Monday.

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), where the winds from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres meet, continues to prevail over most of southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, while the warm and humid easterlies blow over the eastern part of Luzon.

Cloudy skies with scattered rains are expected in Metro Manila, most of Cagayan Valley, Benguet, Pangasinan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, Leyte provinces, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

On the other hand, the northeasterly winds, the precursor of the northeast monsoon or amihan, will bring cloudy skies with rains in Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

PAGASA warned against possible flash flooding and landslides during periods of moderate to heavy rains.

“Sa susunod na tatlong araw, itong ITCZ at Easterlies ay makakaapekto pa rin sa malaking bahagi ng ating bansa, lalong-lalo na sa southern Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao,” senior weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said during PAGASA’s morning broadcast.

No weather disturbance is being monitored inside the Philippine area of responsibility.

A tropical depression more than 3,000 kilometers of Central Luzon at 8 a.m. Monday is unlikely to enter the PAR nor affect the country’s weather.

The country remains in a transition period toward the amihan season, which could begin late October or early November because of El Niño. 

The weather bureau said a strong to very strong El Niño is already prevailing in the tropical Pacific Ocean and could peak in December.

It could result in a drier and warmer amihan season.