Watch out for thunderstorms this summer, says Pagasa

Thunderstorms during summer?

Filipinos will begin to experience this weather disturbance in the afternoon or early evening this month due to warmer temperatures, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

"Afternoon and early evening thunderstorms due to warming may start to occur in the second half of the month," the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its weather outlook for April.

A thunderstorm is usually characterized by lightning, thunder and dense clouds, and can be accompanied by heavy rainfall or strong winds or hail.

Pagasa however said normal rainfall would be experienced in most parts of Northern Luzon, the Bicol region, Visayas and Mindanao. But in Central Luzon including Metro Manila, Pangasinan and Quezon, most areas of Northern and Southern Mindanao, CARAGA region and Palawan, below normal rainfall is likely to be experienced.

The weather bureau said slightly warmer air temperatures would likely persist during the month. Forecast ranges of temperature will be between 16 to 26 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas in Luzon, 24 to 36 degrees Celsius for the rest of Luzon, 23 to 34 degrees Celsius in Visayas, 19 to 31 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas in Mindanao and 22 to 34 degrees Celsius for the rest of Mindanao.

Pagasa said weather systems that would affect the country this month are ridge of high pressure area, the inter tropical convergence zone (ITCZ), tail end of cold front and the easterly wave, which is responsible for warmer air temperatures.

Last month, Pagasa said slightly warmer temperatures were noted in most parts of the country.

The northeast monsoon weakened during the second half of March, which brought hot weather conditions in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

Pagasa maintained that possibility of tropical cyclone occurrence this month "is very low."

Weather forecasters earlier predicted that the first tropical cyclone would likely hit the country this May. – Helen Flores