Storm-free Philippines until weekend - PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday reported that the Philippines will experience a storm-free fair weather in most parts of the country until Sunday.

PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said there are no weather disturbances seen near the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), indicating that the country will remain storm-free in the first three days of 2016.

Zero to one tropical cyclone is expected to enter PAR in January. The first cyclone of 2016 will be locally named “Ambo.”

Cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers will be experienced in most parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila due to the northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan” affecting Northern Luzon and the tail-end of a cold front affecting the eastern section of Central and Southern Luzon.

The weather bureau said Bicol region and the province of Aurora will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms while Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Ilocos Region and the rest of Central Luzon will have cloudy skies with light rains. The rest of the country, on the other hand, will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers.

In its advisory, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough while the rest of the country will experience winds that are light to moderate coming from the east to northeast with slight to moderate seas.

The weather bureau also issued a gale warning due to the effects of northeast monsoon that causes rough to very rough condition due to strong to gale force winds. It is expected to affect the seaboards of Northern Luzon.

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," PAGASA added.