PAGASA: Rainy season is near

MANILA, Philippines - It’s almost rainy season.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday the rainy season associated with the southwest monsoon could be felt beginning Friday.

“It (onset of rainy season later this week) is possible but we don’t expect intense rains yet, although we forecast frequent rains during the period (June 6 to 9),” PAGASA weather division Chief Robert Sawi said.

He said the southwest monsoon is expected to bring occasional monsoon rains over the Ilocos region, central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and over western Visayas from Saturday till Monday.

Last year, the weather bureau officially declared the start of the rainy season on June 10.

Based on PAGASA’s weekly outlook, wind will shift from westerly to southwesterly starting Friday, bringing cloudy skies and scattered light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms over the western section of Luzon.

The areas in the western section of Luzon include Metro Manila, Palawan, Mindoro, Cavite, Batangas, Bataan and Zambales.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

No tropical cyclone is expected to affect the country until Monday, PAGASA said.