Rainy school opening predicted

MANILA, Philippines – Expect light rains when classes open next week, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday.

Pagasa deputy director for operations and services Nathaniel Cruz said that based on the latest forecast, light rains are expected over the western section of the country, including Metro Manila, on June 1.

He said the low-pressure area (LPA) off extreme Northern Luzon could strengthen the southwest monsoon and trigger rains over the western section of the country, including the Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Metro Manila and Western Visayas.

As of 2 a.m. yesterday, the LPA was spotted at 400 kilometers north of extreme Northern Luzon.

Cruz said there is a slim chance that the LPA would intensify into a tropical cyclone.

However, he said this could enhance the southwest monsoon, which is the prevailing wind system during the rainy season.

Meanwhile, Cruz said the rains over some parts of Metro Manila yesterday were due to “local heating of the ground.”

“The rains are not yet associated with the southwest monsoon,” he said.

Cruz said the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) would bring scattered rainshowers over Visayas and Mindanao in the next 24 hours.

Extreme northern Luzon, on the other hand, would have partly cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.