Rainy week in Cebu due to ‘habagat’

Local

CEBUANOS should brace for more cloudy skies and scattered rains this week as the southwest monsoon, or habagat, continues to affect much of the region, even as a tropical depression looms far outside the country’s weather boundary.

Central Visayas, including Cebu, is in for a damp and cloudy week as the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, continues to pull rainclouds over the region, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported Monday, June 23.

While a low-pressure area (LPA) has intensified into a tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), Pagasa clarified that it poses “no immediate threat” to the country and is unlikely to make landfall.

Engineer Al Quiblat, chief of Pagasa Mactan, previously said the province is expected to experience localized thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon and evening hours, through early this week.

Despite generally fair conditions in the mornings, Quiblat reminded residents not to let their guard down.

“Localized thunderstorms, often associated with the formation of cumulonimbus (CB) clouds, can still bring sudden and heavy rainfall, especially in the afternoon,” he warned.

Cumulonimbus clouds are tall, dense formations that rapidly produce thunderstorms, gusty winds, and, in some cases, flash flooding, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas of Cebu City.

Pagasa stated that the tropical depression remained far from the country and was not expected to enter the PAR or directly influence local weather systems.

It added, however, that the southwest monsoon would persist and bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, particularly in the western sections of Visayas.

Cloudy skies with intermittent heavy rains are expected throughout the week in Cebu and nearby provinces. Daily temperatures in Cebu are forecast to range between 25 and 31 degrees Celsius, with increased humidity and chances of sudden downpours, particularly in the afternoons.

Weather specialist Veronica Torres, in Pagasa’s national forecast, added that the habagat is also bringing rains to Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Mimaropa, and parts of Mindanao.

“We are monitoring the development of the LPA northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon,” she said. “It has a high chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next two days, but will most likely remain outside our weather boundary.”

Pagasa warned residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert, as heavy rains could cause flash floods or landslides.

While Luzon and Mindanao may see breaks of fair weather, localized thunderstorms could still occur due to humidity and afternoon heat buildup.

Pagasa urged continued preparedness as the monsoon season progresses, reminding the public that even without a storm, habagat-induced rains can be disruptive and dangerous.(TGP)