Three weather systems bring rains over PHL amid tropical depression

Three weather systems are expected to bring rains over large parts of the country, posing risks of flooding and landslides, while a tropical depression is being monitored, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday.

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is expected to bring scattered rains and thunderstorms over the Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, and Caraga, according to PAGASA’s 4:00 a.m. weather advisory.

It is also expected to affect Northern Mindanao, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Leyte, and Southern Leyte.

The ITCZ is a cloud band formed by the convergence of trade winds from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Easterlies are expected to bring similar weather conditions over Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, and Pangasinan.

The northeasterly windflow may bring cloudy skies with rains over Batanes and the Babuyan Islands.

PAGASA warned of possible flooding and landslides in areas affected by the three weather systems.

Meanwhile, a tropical depression is being monitored within PAGASA’s monitoring domain. The disturbance was last located 3,030 kilometers east of Central Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 70 kph.

“It is not expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility and is currently not affecting the country,” Aldzcar D. Aurelio, weather specialist of PAGASA, said during a 5 a.m. press briefing.

The previous tropical cyclone monitored by PAGASA has also exited the bureau’s monitoring domain. — Edg Adrian A. Eva