MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecast rains in parts of the Philippines on Thursday.
Pagasa Weather Specialist Benison Estareja said in the 5 p.m. weather update on Wednesday that there was a high chance of rain in the eastern portion of Luzon by Thursday because of the northeast monsoon (amihan) and shear line.
"Light rains here in Batanes, Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, and Isabela while there will be light to moderate with at times heavy rains in" Aurora, Quirino, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, parts of Marinduque, and Oriental Mindoro, he said. He cautioned the public against flash floods and landslides.
Estareja said isolated drizzles on Thursday were possible in the rest of northern Luzon and central Luzon.
As to Metro Manila and the rest of southern Luzon including Calabarzon as well as the west of Mimaropa and Bicol, he said that "more on afternoon or evening thunderstorms" on Thursday were possible. The weather would be hot and humid by Thursday noon, he said.
In the Visayas, based on the forecast, its eastern portion had the highest chance of rains on Thursday. Estareja said that the rains would not be continuous but, generally, would be light to moderate rains if occasional rains occur.
As to the rest of the Visayas and a large part of Palawan, he said it would be partly cloudy or weather conditions would be fair from morning to noon on Thursday. He said that by afternoon to evening on Thursday, the chance of overcast skies is high and that "there is also a chance of isolated rain showers or localized thunderstorms."
Estareja said that in Mindanao, the weather would be sunny and hot on Thursday from morning to noon. "So make sure, if you are going out of the house, to also bring water aside from an umbrella or protection from direct sunlight," he said.
He said that parts of Mindanao, particularly Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and several areas in the Zamboanga Peninsula, and Northern Mindanao, would have localized thunderstorms or isolated thunderstorms by afternoon and evening on Thursday.
No gale warning was issued.
However, Estareja said that moderate seas could be expected in northern Luzon as well as the coastal waters of Aurora, Quezon, and the Camarines provinces because of the northeast monsoon. He cautioned fishers, saying wave heights could reach 3.4 meters.
