Public urged to remain alert vs flashfloods

MANILA, Philippines - The weather bureau advised yesterday the public to remain alert against flashfloods and landslides as the diffused tail-end of a cold front will continue to bring widespread rains over some parts of the country until the weekend.

In an advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms will prevail over Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

Cloudy skies with widespread rains, on the other hand, will persist over Leyte provinces, Central Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides, it said.

Northern and Eastern Luzon will be mostly cloudy with rains while the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with light rains.

The rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA, however, said no tropical cyclone is expected to affect the country in the next three days.

Meanwhile, PAGASA warned fishermen and operators of small sea vessels against venturing into the seas of Luzon and Eastern Visayas due to strong winds and big waves associated with the northeast monsoon.

“Fishing boats and other small sea craft are advised not to venture out into sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” the weather bureau said.