No cyclone but rains expected

MANILA, Philippines - The weather bureau reported yesterday that no tropical cyclone is expected to affect the country in the next three days, only rains brought by the tail end of a cold front.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the whole country would experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms today.

Cloudy skies with widespread rains will prevail over Central and Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao, PAGASA said.

PAGASA said the tail end of the cold front was affecting Southern Luzon and eastern Visayas while wind convergence was affecting Mindanao.

The bureau said the coastal waters throughout the archipelago would be moderate to rough.

The tail end of a cold front dumped rains over some parts of Metro Manila yesterday, prompting the cancellation of some domestic flights.

PAGASA said that two more Doppler radars will be set up in Zamboanga and Palawan this year to improve its weather forecasting in Mindanao.

PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said they would soon start the bidding process for the two radars.

“We expect the radars to be operational before the start of the rainy season next year,” Servando said.

Doppler radars are capable of generating short-term but highly accurate weather forecasts.

PAGASA has only one rainfall and storm tracking Doppler radar in Mindanao. It is located in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

More than 30 people died after a landslide hit a mining area in Compostela Valley last Thursday.

Last December, tropical storm “Sendong” triggered flashfloods in Northern Mindanao and Central Visayas, killing scores of people.