MANILA, Philippines — A hailstorm occurred in Taal, Batangas and in Magalang, Pampanga on Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported.
Weather specialist Charmagne Varilla told The STAR the hail event was recorded between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. due to the severe thunderstorm.
Hail develops when strong thunderstorm winds carry raindrops high into freezing air, causing them to turn into ice.
While hailstorms are not a common weather phenomenon in the country, Varilla said the severe thunderstorm occurred because the atmosphere was moist.
“The environment is unstable, that’s why there is a formation of frequent thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon,” she told The STAR.
PAGASA issued a thunderstorm advisory on Sunday in Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Metro Manila.
The state weather bureau also warned that moderate and heavy rains could occur in Tarlac, Zambales, Cavite, Batangas and Bulacan.
The uncommon occurrence coincided with the continued intensification of Typhoon Francisco over the Philippine Sea.
As of 5 p.m. yesterday, Francisco was located 525 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, moving west-northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph and gusts of up to 215 kph.
According to PAGASA, the weather system continues to intensify over the Philippine Sea and may develop into a super typhoon within the next 12 hours.
Signal no. 1 is raised in Batanes, the northeastern portion of Cagayan, and the eastern portion of the Babuyan Islands.
“It will move generally northwestward until June 23 (today) and will decelerate before recurving north northeastward towards the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan,” PAGASA said.
Francisco is expected to remain far from the Philippine landmass and weaken starting Wednesday before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday.
Although the typhoon is not expected to make landfall, it is enhancing the southwest monsoon, which could trigger rains, thunderstorms and flooding in several areas.
The effects of the inclement weather were felt in parts of Metro Manila, where heavy rains and strong winds Sunday night caused three electric poles to collapse along a portion of M.H. Del Pilar Street in Barangay Maysilo, Malabon City.
According to the city government, one of the fallen poles struck a parked tricycle, while another smaller pole landed on the roof of a house.
No injuries were reported, but around 500 customers lost power due to the incident.
Manila Electric Co. vice president Joe Zaldarriaga assured affected residents that Meralco’s personnel were working to restore electricity service as soon as possible.
The affected stretch remained closed to traffic Monday morning as clearing and repair operations continued.
Motorists were advised to avoid the area and use alternate routes while the road remains closed.
Amid the threat of adverse weather conditions brought by Francisco and the enhanced southwest monsoon, government agencies have heightened their preparedness measures.
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said disaster response units had been activated to assist communities that may be affected by the typhoon and the enhanced southwest monsoon.
“Police units on the ground observe disaster response protocol and coordination with local authorities is included for a unified and quick action for the safety of the people,” he said.
“We advise the public to remain vigilant and follow orders from local authorities for their own safety,” Nartatez added.
The Philippine Coast Guard has also placed all operational units and its Deployable Response Group in the Northeastern Luzon District on heightened alert. — Mark Ernest Villeza, Evelyn Macairan, Emmanuel Tupas