By Brian Campued
Make sure to always bring your umbrella with you as it will be useful both for the intense hot weather and the possible onset of the rainy season.
This, as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced the start of the southwest monsoon (habagat) season, referring to warm, moist winds that usually bring rain over the western section of the country between May and September.
In a press release Saturday, PAGASA noted the presence of southwesterly winds over the western section of the country, which may continue with the recent development of Severe Tropical Storm Domeng (international name: Jangmi) over the Philippine Sea.
The state weather bureau said the start of the habagat season is also one of the precursors of the “possible onset of the rainy season in the coming days.”
“Inaasahan natin sa mga susunod na araw, kaakibat nitong epekto or itong presence ni Bagyong Domeng, mas dadalas na yung mga pag-ulan natin dito sa ating bansa, especially sa western section ng Pilipinas,” PAGASA Weather Specialist Daniel James Villamil said in a public briefing.
However, monsoon breaks or rain breaks lasting a few days or weeks may also occur, PAGASA said.
Based on PAGASA’s weather advisory issued at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, heavy rains caused by the habagat will drench Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, and Antique from Sunday noon (May 31) to Monday noon (June 1).
The same provinces mentioned above as well as Iloilo and Guimaras will also experience 50-100 mm of rainfall from Monday noon to Tuesday noon (June 2).
PAGASA clarified that forecast rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas, noting risks of landslides and localized flooding in low-lying areas.
The public and concerned agencies are advised to take precautionary measures against the possible adverse impact of habagat and other climate and weather events.
Meanwhile, Domeng was last monitored 875 km east of Northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kph. It is moving northwestward at 20 kph.
No Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal has been hoisted, but the storm as well as habagat will bring strong to gale-force gusts over most of Visayas, Batanes, Cagayan, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Sarangani, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental on Sunday.
According to PAGASA’s latest tropical cyclone bulletin, Domeng is forecast to intensify into a typhoon between Saturday night and Sunday morning while remaining over the Philippine Sea but is less likely to make landfall over any parts of the country.
Domeng may exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday.
“Mananatiling malayo yung forecast track ng nasabing bagyo sa ating bansa, pero magpapatuloy pa rin ngayong araw yung epekto nito sa ilang areas ng Luzon, partikular na yung trough o extension nito,” Villamil said.
“Yung mas magiging concern po natin sa mga susunod na araw ay yung epekto ng southwest monsoon o hanging habagat,” he added.
-jpv
