Pagasa sees storm-free Christmas

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos can expect a storm-free Christmas celebration, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday.

However, the northeast monsoon is likely to bring light rains over some parts of the country during the holidays, the state-run weather bureau said.

In its Special Weather Outlook for the Christmas holidays, Pagasa said no tropical cyclone is expected to develop from Dec. 22 to 26.

“Good weather condition is expected to prevail over the rest of the country aside from passing light rains particularly in the early morning,” Pagasa said.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said the northeast monsoon and the tail-end of a cold front will be the dominant weather systems affecting the eastern sections of the country in the next three days.

Pagasa said the northeast monsoon - which brings cold air from the Siberian peninsula toward mainland Luzon - is expected to bring light rains over most parts of eastern Luzon and eastern Visayas throughout the period.

On the other hand, Pagasa said the tail-end of a cold front will affect northern and eastern Mindanao, bringing widespread rains over these areas.

“The cold front will bring scattered rainshowers in some parts of the country over the rest of the outlook period,” it added.

Pagasa said moderate to strong northeasterly winds will continue to prevail over Luzon and the Visayas and coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

“Fishermen along the seaboards of Luzon are alerted against moderate to high waves generated by the northeasterly winds,” it said.

Pagasa, an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology, said it issued the special weather outlook to provide guidance for the public in making their travel plans during the holiday season.

To date, a total of 22 tropical cyclones have entered the country this year.

Two of these cyclones left a number of people dead and huge damage to agriculture and infrastructure amounting to P38.3 billion, according to Pagasa weather branch chief and spokesman Nathaniel Cruz.