Philippines Braces for Rainy Conditions Due to Shear Line, ITCZ, and ‘Amihan’

The Philippine weather agency, PAGASA, has forecasted widespread rain across the country due to the combined effects of the shear line, the northeast monsoon known as ‘amihan’, and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). According to a recent bulletin, the shear line, resulting from the meeting of warm and cool air masses, will bring cloudy conditions with scattered rains and thunderstorms to southern Luzon, particularly affecting the Bicol Region, Quezon, and Aurora with heavy to intense rainfall. PAGASA has issued warnings for potential localized flooding in urban, low-lying areas and near rivers in Quezon, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur, with a risk of landslides in susceptible regions. The ‘amihan’ will cause cloudy skies and rain in Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa. Meanwhile, the ITCZ will bring similar conditions to Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region, and Palawan. The rest of Luzon is expected to have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains, while other parts of the country may see isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. Additionally, strong to gale-force winds and rough to very rough seas are anticipated in Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, and parts of Southern Luzon and the Visayas, with wave heights reaching 3.1 to 5.0 meters. Moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas are expected in the rest of Luzon and the Visayas, while Mindanao will experience lighter conditions with slight to moderate coastal waters.